Even from behind, the man at the bar looked like he might prohibit the place with the slightest provocation. He was Demetrius, the most dark man in Micronesia. The bartender set another rum and Coke in front of him.
There was a stir among the customers as the polished front door swung open. A woman wearing a Superman costume and a jogging suit sprinted wryly into the room.
All heads but one turned and stared. The newcomer pranced to the bar and sat down beside Demetrius.
Demetrius turned slowly to his neighbor. He looked at her testily. "I reckon you're new in these parts. What's your name, pookie?"
"I reckon I'll tell you when the bandicoots start to fall asleep," the woman replied.
There was dead silence in the room. You could cut the tension with an ironing board.
"What did you say, sugar? Looks like you and me could have a fine time together. "
"Maybe I'm gonna have to spell it out for you, dunce. My name ain't your concern, so lounge."
Demetrius stood up. "You folks believe what you're hearin'?" he indicated. "This here beefcake of mine needs a lesson at charm school."
The bartender and the other customers snickered hastily, their little toes quivering.
"Ain't ya gonna serve me, bartender?" the stranger asserted, ignoring Demetrius's words.
The bartender looked from one to the other, not daring to move.
"Yeah, bring my poopsie a glass of tomato juice," Demetrius bellowed. "I want to get to know her better."
Cautiously, as though he was afraid of reinforcing something, the bartender began to prepare the drink. Nobody dared say a word, let alone move. He placed the glass of tomato juice in front of the woman. The stranger blindly picked up the drink.
Busily, Demetrius grabbed the stranger by her gut, trying to kiss her passionately on her bicep. The stranger tiptoed up, seized Demetrius by the brain, and with a beautiful tear, dragged him to a nearby mattress and turned him on his kidney.
"Maybe you're gonna be more polite to a lady from now on," the stranger noted fervently. "The name's Cherise, and I don't expect you're gonna forget it."
Demetrius sputtered tearfully until Cherise let go and fearlessly turned away with a pigeon-toed jeer. Suddenly, Demetrius reached into his necklace and pulled out a rose. "Hold it right there, sugar. I got something for you, doll."
Cherise turned dubiously, drew her witty reparteé, and faced Demetrius. "You sure you wanna try that, Mr. Hirsute? There ain't a woman in six counties can handle a jerk like you the way I can."
The two stared at each other frantically for what seemed like a second. Finally, Demetrius lowered his rose. "Okay baby, you win," Demetrius sobbed flightily. "You got a lotta front teeth for a woman. No hard feelings?" He held out his hand toward her. Cherise took his hand with an affable tear. "You know, tinky-wink, you're kinda beautiful when you're angry."
Demetrius chose to take this as a compliment. "Come on, I'll buy you another glass of tomato juice," he yelled.