Bradley Williams could make the best crab in the world. It wasn’t hubris, just a cold hard fact. It was an almost all day event making sure the crab was as fresh as he could get and then mixing the spices into the soup before dropping them in for what felt like forever. Finally, towards the end of the night the crab was ready to eat with a bit of butter and lemon.
Bradley didn’t feel like cooking the crab tonight though so he found himself at one of the few seafood spots that he trusted enough not to boil the crabs within an inch of their tasty lives. He may have been an “honest” fisherman but even he liked to get out and try the product. The place bought from him when a few non-commercial items showed up in his nets. He liked the owner and new he’d get a good discounted price for a damn good meal. The gumbo for a first course was good enough to kill his mother for to get the recipe. The remains of the crab, Bradley nicknamed Reggie, sat in a bucket in the center of the table while a bottle of Sauza Hornitos helped to digest that delicious meal.
He opted for the best silk Hawaiian he could find and a pair of loose and breezy khakis. Finishing it all off were a pair of suede shoes made for dancing. Not that he had come out to do the mambo, but you never knew with these places. He’d been flirting with the waitress all night. He may have been entering the twilight of his life but he was still in better shape than most twenty year olds and had learned things in Singapore and Shanghai that could make the little local blush for a week.
The band had finished their sound check as he ordered a Corona to go with his Sauza. Bradley clapped and gave a whistle as the singer moved up on stage. It was an old black man about the size of the bar himself, but no one said anything. When most people were out thinking about the blues, this man had obviously lived them.Bradley had to respect that sort of life, hell, he’d probably been in the same gutters this man had from time to time. The man on stage let out his first moan, that typical, mm mmm mmmm that only blues had to offer. Tonight looked like a good night.
After another day with the real estate agent, she was beginning to think she was just going to google the places, before she contacted the lady again. Dressed in a teal tank top with a sea green bra strap that randomly peeked out from under the tank tops strap and a pair of black blue jeans with a pair of black tennis shoes upon her feet. Not spending more time then she had to at the hotel, she made her way to the French Quarter, deciding to see what she could find out there.
Spotting a seafood place up ahead, the music floating out onto the street beckoning her to move forward, and that she did. She almost became distracted by the small group of people that were walking past, but the music kept her moving forward, and into the seafood restaurant.
Once inside she stayed near the back of the place, taking a seat at a small table, that had just become empty. The waitress was quick to come and get her order, which she always liked when places gave prompt service. While she waited for the food, her sparkling emerald gaze fluttered around the place, pausing here and there.
A few looked like prospects but she wasn’t moving yet. She was going to eat her food, and listen to the music.
Bradley had taken notice the young thing that walked through the door but other than that he remained focused on the band. He could get as good a look as he could but in the end he knew those fine young things were better off in the window than in the bag. Besides Bradley would probably throw his back out the first move he tried to make, damn age.
He took another sip of the Hornitos as he leaned back and enjoyed the show. Bradley could get as hammered or as straight as he could thanks to his control of water, but tonight was just one of those good buzz nights that left you feeling good and that alcohol wasn't a bad thing. The band was good at jazz and phenomenal at blues. He even gave a loud whistle as they did a cover of an old Muddy Waters tune.
The waitress came back and he paid for his check but continued to stick around. Nothing much going on save for his boat swaying in the water so why not stay out on the town for a little longer.
It did not take long for the food to be brought out, and placed on the table before her, she had ordered a shrimp gumbo, the waitress had said it was one of the best in town. This place was no McDonalds, but that could be a good thing, to change up her diet every now and then, and to try something new. The food was hot and fresh, which was something you could tell easily enough, and she ate with small bites. Chewing the food before looking around.
After eating her food, her emerald gaze skimmed for the bathroom, which she found the sign. Standing she would attempt to make her way over to it, only she didn’t quite make it, because at that time, people were standing up, clapping for the live music. Some were asking for more, while other’s were whistling loudly. It was in this hub bub that the girl whom wasn’t the most graceful, found herself falling, not like awe I adore you falling but seriously falling and landing at the man’s feet. Her hands had saved her face from meeting the ground but if she wasn’t careful, when she popped up from the floor, her head would find itself with a nice knot.
Closing her eyes just a moment, as she pulled her legs up so she was a in a full crawling position before using her hands to push up, she thought about just sitting there a moment, but decided against it. Somehow her head just missed hitting the table by less then a inch. Because she was used to such things, she gave the guy at the table a grin, “Don’t worry…your shoes are tied…thought I’d check for you.” Even if his shoes didn’t tie, that was what he got.
