Mac walked into the Redford Bar and shook the fog off his
overcoat. After adjusting to the dim light, he spotted his old college roommate,
Ricky, in a booth, and made his way over. It'd been five years since they graduated,
and he was looking forward to catching up.
The drinks had just arrived when Mac saw her, an oddly
dressed woman at the shadowy end of the bar, perched on a red stool. She wore a
jacket made of black feathers, and had placed more in her hair, giving her the
appearance of a large bird.
“Hey Ricky,” Mac whispered, “do you see that woman?”
“Her? That’s the Bird Woman of the Alcazar.”
“What?” Mac replied, with an arched eyebrow.
“Well, we’re in San Francisco, and then there is her coat, plus
the Alcazar Theatre is across the street.”
“Okay, very punny.”
“I’m serous Mac, that’s what she’s called. She’s here every
night, on that same stool, all alone.”
“Maybe she just needs a friend,” Mac said as he stood and
walked over to the woman.
“Hi,” Mac said, “so you’re the famous bird lady.”
“Is that what they call me?”
Mac’s face flushed.
“I’m not a bird woman,” she declared, “I’m the daughter of
Carol Doda!”
“That can't be possible, you don’t look a day over 30.”
“It’s rude to comment on a woman’s age. Perhaps I am a time
traveler, or immortal,” she leaned closer to Mac, and with whisky laced breath
whispered, “or perhaps I’m a ghost.”
“A ghost! I didn’t know ghosts smelled like whisky.” Mac was
surprised to find himself flirting. “So, Miss Doda, may I buy you a drink?”
“I thought you would never ask,” she batted her feather
adorned eyelashes at him, and then turned to the bartender, “you know what I
like Bill.”
“Of course, that will be $10.” The bartender held out his
hand as Mac fished a ten out of his wallet, then threw in two ones for good measure.
At that moment the doors to the bar flew open and three
women, also decked out in feathered outfits, burst into the room. The bird lady’s
face lit up and she flew off her stool to join her flock. As the group turned
to leave the bar, she called over her shoulder, “Bill, add that to my total,
would ya’?”
“Of course, Donna.”
Mac turned around to see the bartender take a piece of chalk
to the “Leave-a-Drink” board behind the bar. There was a long list of names,
but at the top was Donna, followed by a couple dozen hash marks.
“Don’t worry Mac, she does that to everyone,” Ricky said,
“heck I think at least two of those are from me.”
“But I thought you said she was crazy?”
“Nah, she’s probably just going to some costume party.”
“I can’t believe you helped her trick me like that!”
“What can I say, I think she’s cute.”
“Fine,” Mac rolled his eyes, “but you’re getting the next
round.”
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