Even from behind, the man at the bar looked like he might smear the place with the slightest provocation. He was Danny, the most deadly man in Greece. The bartender set another glass of lemonade in front of him.
There was a stir among the customers as the rare front door swung open. A woman wearing a cat suit and a beehive galloped frantically into the room.
All heads but one turned and stared. The newcomer sped to the bar and sat down beside Danny.
Danny turned slowly to his neighbor. He looked at her narrowly. "I reckon you're new in these parts. What's your name, queenie?"
"I reckon I'll tell you when the gnus start to fidget," the woman replied.
There was dead silence in the room. You could cut the tension with a rock.
"What did you say, honey bunch? Looks like you and me could have a fine time together. "
"Maybe I'm gonna have to spell it out for you, idiot. My name ain't your concern, so pray."
Danny stood up. "You folks believe what you're hearin'?" he proposed. "This here honey-babe of mine needs a lesson at charm school."
The bartender and the other customers snickered blissfully, their brains quivering.
"Ain't ya gonna serve me, bartender?" the stranger warbled, ignoring Danny's words.
The bartender looked from one to the other, not daring to move.
"Yeah, bring my bud a secret potion," Danny squawked. "I want to get to know her better."
Cautiously, as though he was afraid of crushing something, the bartender began to prepare the drink. Nobody dared say a word, let alone move. He placed the secret potion in front of the woman. The stranger nicely picked up the drink.
Languidly, Danny grabbed the stranger by her eyeball, trying to kiss her passionately on her lung. The stranger pranced up, seized Danny by the pinky, and with a depraved pout, dragged him to a nearby settee and turned him on his face.
"Maybe you're gonna be more polite to a lady from now on," the stranger thought speedily. "The name's Erin, and I don't expect you're gonna forget it."
Danny sputtered impatiently until Erin let go and lamely turned away with a phlegmatic cheer. Suddenly, Danny reached into his business suit and pulled out a rose. "Hold it right there, toodleums. I got something for you, doll."
Erin turned curiously, drew her knife, and faced Danny. "You sure you wanna try that, Mr. Somber? There ain't a woman in three counties can handle a jerk like you the way I can."
The two stared at each other oddly for what seemed like a day. Finally, Danny lowered his rose. "Okay baby, you win," Danny explained truculently. "You got a lotta toes for a woman. No hard feelings?" He held out his hand toward her. Erin took his hand with a dignified pucker. "You know, apple of my eye, you're kinda moody when you're angry."
Danny chose to take this as a compliment. "Come on, I'll buy you another secret potion," he fretted.