They finished their shift at the record store. They were giddy and unsure of what to do next. They did know that they 1) just got paid 2) really wanted to drink 3) needed to keep the momentum going or they’d default to their usual: oggle british boys at the ‘Mad Dog in the Fog’.
They’ve been dying to watch that movie with that one guy. There is a also a liquor store a few blocks from the theater. It’s flask time. Pretend it’s Vegas.
~
Inside the liquor store, Raine eyeballs cheap vodka. Julie contemplates bottom shelf rum. They’re discerning about nothing. Except maybe volume and price. An unassuming fella with glasses enters the store. He acknowledges the girls with a polite nod. Then he grabs some gin. Before paying, he looks back quickly at the girls, then laughs to himself.
Raine and Julie stand behind him in line with their 2 big bottles of cheap liquor. They are content. The fella turns around and asks the girls what exciting plans they have. They tell him: full flasks and the movie with whatshisname. He laughs and tells the cashier that he’s buying their liquor.
What? They’re stumped. Elated and stumped.
Raine asks if he wants to share a drink with them. He looks at them both and says, “No, no. I don’t want anything in return. I was you 10 years ago. Couldn’t afford much. Worked a crappy job. Tell you what – when you’re in the position to do so…maybe do the same thing for someone someday?” Raine and Julie thank him again. He smiles awkwardly and trips on the step out the door.
The two girls are impossibly more giddy. What a nice surprise. And to think…someday, yes. They will actually be able to return the favor.
~
They grab seats toward the back of the theater, make a discreet toast to the kind stranger and proceed to get tanked.
~
That was 10 years ago. Raine just got off the phone with Julie. They’re 3,000 miles apart yet maintain contact, as good friends do.
They’ve modified it over the years. And they find a way to do it in their own way. Raine was waiting for her friend, who was running a bit late, for dinner out one evening. She struck up a conversation with another dining patron and through the gist of it, felt it was something she wanted to do. Raine paid the other dining patron’s tab.
Julie was waiting for the ferry to come in and caught a group of teens counting coins, determining if they had enough to board. She gave them a prepaid ferry ticket booklet.
~
Raine & Julie are still clumsy and completely inelegant when they go about it but it is fun. That’s half the reason why they unexpectedly give to unassuming strangers. 1/2 fun. 1/2 completely, totally and awesomely fucking awkward.
