From

[rashid]

my vantage point in the booth I gave Cadillac Girl the once over while I waited for Lu to finish her business in the galley and come back out to tell me what I was going to have for dinner. She wasn't dressed for the counter at Earnies, her hair and makup denied her relationship with a strawberry milkshake and the more I saw, the more she seemed out of context.

Then, as I watched her from behind, she began to tremble as if the air in the room had turned to frost. Seconds later her hand darted out somewhat frantically and came up with one of those plastic pill things you get prescription meds in from your local pharmacist. Twist the top, pop some pills and just as quickly the shaking eased off and she came back to normal.

In less than two minutes it was over as if it had never happened and I was left holding a bag of adrenaline, poised for action with no action to take. Something was wrong - physically, emotionally, or both, but it was none of my business. I was a boat bum and she was a Cadillac Girl. I figured she was someone elses dance partner and if my help wasn't needed I'd stay out of it. Still a bit concerned, I was easing back into the booth when her head swiveled around and hostile eyes skewered me where I sat.

"Sorry" I said "are you ok?"