A Night To Celebrate Death

A small jazz band having four playing kept the holiday night atmosphere alive into the wee hours. As the clock clicked closer to midnight Laurie Curtis stirred the mixed drink waiting for the eleventh month to come,

“Ben,” she snapped, “Ben Trainer, I need another one.”

“Another one?” Ben wiped his hands on the towel, “two rocks and a shot.”

Gleaming in the lone spotlight Lily White approached the microphone, “it is still the night of the dead,” her red lips spoke into the electronic device, and we play all the joyous hits until daybreak.”

“Ben, is she still around when the moon leaves and the sun finally gets its respectable space?”

“No, we close at one o’clock in the morning.”

Laurie accepted the drink from the bartender and sipped it very slowly as the trick or treat on stage seduced the small audience still awake. As the music fell silent Lily White removed herself from wanting attention and approached the counter.

“So, you are Laurie Curtis,”

“And who are you?” Laurie spoke a surly greeting “just another eye candy sample singing the blues?”

“Yup, just a toffee tease who has nothing,” Lily was being honest to the stranger she never met before the evening encounter,

“You do have what it takes,” Laurie complemented despite not having all her faculties, “this soothing voice that could calm any monster.”

Being an independent spirit, Lily White returned to her contracted villa near the street’s end. Knowing the cabaret performance was a nice tri and the locals enjoyed the theatrics she could lie her head down in peace. Climbing the red brick steps Lily picked out her keys and gave a jangle while inserting the teeth into the lock before turning it in the proper direction.

Once inside Lily flicked the light switch and revealed a small kitchen next to the hallway. Proceeding down the corridor there was a lion like scream that pushed the screened gateway and the howling wind encouraged Lily to mumble, “must be God’s work,” and she proceeded to close the door. Stopping suddenly there was a figure in the dark wearing a Boston Red Sox baseball cap, “oh Ben is that you? Yes. I forgot my check thank you for bringing it,” trusting vocals questioned a reminder.

Nothing replied, instigating Lily to outstretch her arm feeling a pulling motion and soon a rope was a necklace gift cutting off any type of air circulation in a second. Not being able to breathe Lily White’s sweet texture talented image was lifeless. Once finished the darkened figured entered the cooking area.

Opening the refrigerator door, the quick illumination revealed someone sitting in a reclining chair fully outstretched, “while you are over there can you bring me a beer? I want to stream ‘Saved By The Bell’ on the singer’s Peacock service.”

“Haven’t you had enough to drink? Laurie,” a deep response rendered, “and I thought you were going to come over tomorrow? And you know,”

“Return the key you gave me?” Laurie replied taking the beverage from him, “Ben I wanted to see this performance, I wanted to see how it was done,”

“Well,” Ben inquired.

“To be honest I would have waited a few minutes until she was in the shower,” Laurie told the truth, “But that is just me.”

“Job is done she is now singing with her soul,”

“And the night celebrating the dead is now complete,” Laurie agreed, and the pair tapped the two Busch cans.

Leaving behind the prop for the CSI Ben stuck his arm around Laurie and the two noticed a brightness over the new horizon, “so Laurie about Saturday, do you want to make it a date night?”

“No, Ben,” Laurie answered, “I have to babysit.”