Wastin' Away In Margaritaville - Vignettes by Parrotheads

[chanaud]

OOC: This is another closed thread for yours truly and Darrenfate. Since we are a couple of crazy Parrotheads, we hope to create lustful scenarios with each Jimmy Buffett song. If you are a Parrothead, you will know we have quite a challenge on our hands for he has entertained us with many songs in the past several decades. So, sit back with your feet up and a perfect Margarita in hand and enjoy reading!

Since this was your inspiration Darren, we will start with your favorite, ’Come Monday.’

Headin' up to San Francisco
for the Labor Day weekend show,
I've got my hush-puppies on,
I guess I never was meant for
glitter rock and roll.
And honey I didn't know
that I'd be missin' so.


I glanced down at my appointment book and noticed its been three long weeks since I saw him last. Three weeks? It couldn’t be that long. I double-checked the dates. Yes, three weeks. My body slumped down as the realization hit me forcefully. I haven’t missed him. How sad. I remembered a time when I couldn’t stand to be without him for one night. Now three weeks has flown by and I didn’t even realize it.

We still make the obligatory phone calls, checking on each other. Polite questions on how our day has been starts our conversations. Then it leads to questions about business. Client’s woes are thrown in the mix. An excuse of mounds of paperwork to do before bedtime finishes our conversation. There’s usually an awkward silence before the standard, “I love you. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Click. End of phone call.

Somehow, I’ve grown used to this relationship. I know he’s our there trying to make our millions so we can live comfortably before we start a family. Our first million took five years. Our second million came within six months. We discussed starting a family. Then the market fell and we lost it all. We were back to the beginning. Six years and we weren’t any further ahead than when we first met.

Three weeks. I still can’t believe it. I felt incredibly sad. Our plans didn’t include living like this. No, we talked about living and loving life together. Together in each other’s arms.

”Oh God! I miss you, babe!”

I couldn’t help crying out into the empty room.

 

[darrenfate]

Jimmy

I stared at the cell phone for long minutes, far after she broke the connection. Hell who am I foolin? We broke our connection months ago, we just go through these twisted robot like phone calls saying all the right things but the emotion is gone.

I know we belong together. My thinning long hair and lines on my face are from too much booze, not enough pot, and hard livin. She is my one chance to live out my life a helluva lot better than I am right now.

Jerry drifts into my view, a doe eyed Lolita named KT on his arm. KT. Helluva fucking name. She had those jeans with the waist cut off and the inevitable flower tat at the base of her spine. Looked all of 18.

Jesus Jerry I feel old. Quit starin at me. I know what you want. Here's a bag of joints. Them roadies have to do something while we are onstage eh?

Jerry laughed. We have been together so long I knew what he would do next. Take ole KT by the hand and offer her a joint in the back of the bus. 'Course she'll have to earn her drugs with a BJ but then there was a time not so long ago that I'd be Jerry. Whoever claims they are in this biz just for the music is a damn liar. The sex and drugs are world class.

It started to rain. I feel like I'm alone in the midst of all these people. I miss her, that crazy, unpredictable, wild assed Florida cracker. I oughta be in her arms not here. Its time to do something about it.

Lenny, hey you worthless blood sucking agent you! Get me a cab. I'll meet you guys in Tampa in two days. Fuck you don't say a word. You work for me. I'm heading for the airport....

 

[chanaud]

Anna

It was time to take action. Time to wake this tired old body and remind him I’m still alive.

It was late. I knew I could have waited until morning but I had to take action now. With a quick dial, a sleepy voice answered. “Hello?”

“Jillene, can you book the earliest flight to Orlando for me. I have to see Jimmy..”

My erratic voice cleared the fog from her sleepy state. It sounded like life and death. It was.

“Oh Anna, ummm…Lenny just called. And I just booked a flight for Jimmy to West Palm…ermmm to go home…...” Her voice trailed at the realization at what she just did.

Color drained from my face leaving me shaking with my worst nightmare. My white knuckles gripped the phone.

“Oh that’s right. I forgot that Jimmy was coming home.” I gave her a half chuckle. Hopefully, she bought it.

“I forgot. Guess I need sleep. Goodnight Jillene. Thanks.”

Bastard! No wonder he hasn’t been home. Why, Jimmy, why? How could you? Who is she?

 

[darrenfate]

Jimmy

First class is sold out. Well at least I got a seat on the aisle in an emergency row. The "James" name on my ticket had thrown off the attendants - so far no one recognized me. So this is what it feels like to be a regular guy. Fuck, I'm out of touch. Some of my best lyrics were inspired by just talking to people. Its been years, I'd forgotten how much I just liked being out.

I grabbed me a Venti Starbucks and filed silently on the plane. More luck, the middle seat would remain empty since the flight was not full. A buxom redhead wearing a lime green shirt and a bored look on her face swung her backpack down in the seat next to the window. She buried her face in a Nora Greene novel ignoring me completely.

I sighed with relief and cracked open the steaming coffee. Anna loved the smell and taste of a good coffee. Hell, it was over a coffee that we first met. The plane lifted off and I sensed the woman staring at me out of the corner of my eye. She undid her top two buttons and moistened her lips getting ready to speak. Damn, she knew who I was. She spoke.

M: Hey got a minute? My name is Marci I'm a professional singer visiting my folks in West Palm. I love your music. Got any advice for a rookie on how to break into the business?

J: Is that Marci with an I?

M: <Looking puzzled > No - two Es

J: <Sheesh another new age name> : Advice eh? Well you may not like it but here it is. Sing all the time. Anywhere, any venue for anyone. Live. Get some experience to go with those looks.

M: My agent says I just need a break, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it to the top. Whatever it takes.

J: Call me at this number, OK? (561) 382-5633. I'll see that you get what's coming to you.

What a prima donna! I settled back in my seat and closed my eyes and smiled to myself. Marcee was way too young to get the old joke. The number spelled out FUCK-OFF. Hell for all I know it is actually a real number. It sure as hell isn't mine.

It began to rain. I think that when I get home, I'll drag Anna out of bed and fuck her on the grass in the warm Florida rain. Damn Anna I've been such a fool. But no more ...

 

[chanaud]

Anna

How old is she, Jimmy? Is she giving you what I can’t? Is she able to make you laugh? Make you feel again? Is that why you don’t come home anymore?

Questions swam around in my head making it throb uncontrollably. I was pacing in my own home as if I was in a cage. I felt so locked up.

Oh God, is she a younger version of me?

I knew of his past. He told me his life story the first night we met, admitting all. He told me I changed him. A maniacal laugh echoed through the hollow room. Change him? Change Jimmy? What was I thinking?

I had to leave. Get out of this place. It was filled with too many memories. I couldn’t think clearly. I had to go somewhere. Where? The only place that came to mind was….
It was the only haven I’ve known.

Blinded with madness, I grabbed a few essentials and stuffed them into a shoulder bag.
As my hand reached for the doorknob, I stopped. I had to leave him a note.

J,

I’ve gone home.

Goodbye,
~ A.

That was all I needed to say. Who knows when he’ll receive this letter. At least I said goodbye.

It took all night even for this madwoman. Gas fill-ups and bathroom breaks were the only stops. Half between, my cell phone rang. The amber glow of his number screamed for me to answer in the dark night. I threw the phone out of my silver Jaquar and gunned the gas pedal.

 

[darrenfate]

Jimmy

There hadn't been time to arrange for a limo. Jimmy waited in line at the Hertz counter just like everybody else. Gainesville in football season was a busy place. Anna had insisted that they live here since she loved her Gators <chomp chomp>. Jimmy was more suited to Miami or the Virgin Islands but he had acquiesced in the face of her obvious passionate feelings. Besides sex with a happy woman is just so much more fun !

Finally the rental rolled into his driveway. While he had blown most of their cash at least he had paid cash for this place when he was swimming in money. The house stood dark. Jimmy was puzzled. Anna was a true night owl and he had never known her to be in bed - to sleep - before 1 AM. It was barely midnight. His uneasiness grew when he found the note.

FUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK

Jimmy screamed aloud to no one in particular. Well this truly sucked! Jimmy was not a man to be put off so easily. He came here to tell her he loved her and change their lives. He had come to Florida to claim her as his bride and he was God Damned well going to do just that!

Now where the fuck would she go? Home??? Her parents were long dead and her home town of Boston held no sway on her. She didn't mean that literally then. So where?

He looked carefully around the master bedroom. There! In her chair <Anna was an inveterate reader> lay a well worn copy of The Sun Also Rises. Hemingway had always been her favorite. It was open to a page with a photograph of Hemingway at the beach as a young man.

http://www.hemingwayfestival.com/images/barechest.jpg

Then he knew. He remembered how Anna had wistfully glided through their tour of The Hemingway House. Got drunk at Sloppy Joes. Said it felt more like home than any place on earth. Key West!

Leaping to his closet Jimmy frantically threw his clothes together. Escewing the rental Jimmy hopped into his silver Carrera and gunned it out to the freeway where it leaped forward like a frightened bat out of Hell ....

 

[chanaud]

Anna

Just when I saw the first sign of the water, I rolled the windows down. The thick humid air clouded around my skin still I welcomed its warmness. Jackson Browne crooned through the Bose speakers, speaking to me, reading my soul.

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up one-on-one
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on

Running on-running on empty
Running on-running blind
Running on-running into the sun
But I'm running behind


And that’s how I drove on the old seven-mile bridge to Key West. Running on empty, running blind, running from Jimmy. Only when I drove past the sign did I see it. My Jaguar came to a screeching halt, put the car in reverse, and gunned the gas pedal. I stopped before the simply painted wooden sign.


Welcome to Palm Island
Key West, Florida

I’ve always lusted to stay there. It was so simply painted. Just like the resort. Jimmy had promised me, ‘One day. One day.’ This is the day, I decided. The car turned easily towards the gravely road.

Checking in was a breeze in spite of not having reservations. The staff didn’t even question the name on the credit card. A bellhop guided me to the thatched roof villa by the Oceanside. After accepting a generous tip, he hesitated at the door. This was a resort for lovers. It was odd to see a single woman check in here. Maybe, her lover will join her later.

“Is everything to your liking?”

“Yes, I’ll be ok.” I answered him without even looking around.

The first thing I did was open the linen curtains, and pulled the sliding glass door apart. The warm ocean breeze rushed in causing my head to swoon from the salty fresh air. I inhaled deeply allowing it to permeate me. Then, it hit me. This is wrong, I thought. I don’t belong here. Not alone.

With a heavy sigh, I threw myself on the oversized bed made for two, and willed myself to sleep. I will have to check out tomorrow and find a place built for one.

Hours later, I was still staring out into the dark night air and watched the stars dancing a waltz on the water.

 

[darrenfate]

Jimmy

Jimmy grinned as he watched the miles fly by the warm Florida wind in his hair. He changed the station where some geeky AM jock was whining about Ron Zook and pining for the good old days of Spurrier. Get over it he thought. Life moves on.

There and then he realized that his life was never going to be the same again. As he raced south Jimmy realized just how ready for this change he had been. In fact, it seemed impossible that it had taken him so long.

Damn Anna is a fine woman!

The hours rolled by as he headed finally past the turn for the University of Miami. Mmmmmmmm South Beach. He thought of the last time he had seen Anna, in that skimpy lime green thong that had fought a losing battle in trying to cover her lush curves. Only a few more hours and then he would be there.

The digital clock read 3:30 AM. He was not tired at all. With any luck he'd be in Key West standing on the southernmost tip of the USA at dawn.

A terrible thought occurred to him. What if Anna didn't believe that he wanted to change his life? Hadn't he promised this to her over and over through the years? Now perhaps like Aesop's fable of the "Boy who cried Wolf", she might dismiss him out of hand. Maybe she wasn't even there! Maybe she had another lover already!

Arghhhhhhhhhh

Jimmy screamed into the night, like some dispossessed lycanthrope seeking to banish these thoughts from his mind. Unsuccessfully.

I swear Anna this is a trip that is long overdue, I should have been in your arms full time months ago. I just pray that it is not too late .........