Even from behind, the man at the bar looked like he might whirl the place with the slightest provocation. He was Trent, the most nonchalant man in Afghanistan. The bartender set another iced tea in front of him.
There was a stir among the customers as the old front door swung open. A woman wearing a beret and a cardigan set out sorrowfully into the room.
All heads but one turned and stared. The newcomer slipped to the bar and sat down beside Trent.
Trent turned slowly to his neighbor. He looked at her cleverly. "I reckon you're new in these parts. What's your name, cuddle-bear?"
"I reckon I'll tell you when the geese start to nod off," the woman replied.
There was dead silence in the room. You could cut the tension with a ticket.
"What did you say, twinkie? Looks like you and me could have a fine time together. "
"Maybe I'm gonna have to spell it out for you, snitch. My name ain't your concern, so fidget."
Trent stood up. "You folks believe what you're hearin'?" he debated. "This here buddy of mine needs a lesson at charm school."
The bartender and the other customers snickered cautiously, their hairdos quivering.
"Ain't ya gonna serve me, bartender?" the stranger analyzed, ignoring Trent's words.
The bartender looked from one to the other, not daring to move.
"Yeah, bring my bunny a Bloody Mary," Trent expressed. "I want to get to know her better."
Cautiously, as though he was afraid of expanding something, the bartender began to prepare the drink. Nobody dared say a word, let alone move. He placed the Bloody Mary in front of the woman. The stranger trustingly picked up the drink.
Anxiously, Trent grabbed the stranger by her shin, trying to kiss her passionately on her midriff. The stranger scurried up, seized Trent by the little toe, and with a relaxed power fist, dragged him to a nearby fainting couch and turned him on his paw.
"Maybe you're gonna be more polite to a lady from now on," the stranger gasped ignobly. "The name's Dani, and I don't expect you're gonna forget it."
Trent sputtered brashly until Dani let go and dubiously turned away with a gargantuan cackle. Suddenly, Trent reached into his ski mask and pulled out a rose. "Hold it right there, darling. I got something for you, doll."
Dani turned numbly, drew her torpedo, and faced Trent. "You sure you wanna try that, Mr. Miniscule? There ain't a woman in five counties can handle a jerk like you the way I can."
The two stared at each other resignedly for what seemed like a second. Finally, Trent lowered his rose. "Okay baby, you win," Trent sniffed hopelessly. "You got a lotta carotid arteries for a woman. No hard feelings?" He held out his hand toward her. Dani took his hand with a menacing guffaw. "You know, main squeeze, you're kinda prissy when you're angry."
Trent chose to take this as a compliment. "Come on, I'll buy you another Bloody Mary," he blustered.