3 Three oclock In The Afternoon (1/2)
Larry, was a local guy and he was also the poolside bartender. He was heavily-built but soft. Long hair that was always up in a man-bun. Given to winking at the clientele. He spoke English with the accent particular to Baja and knew Gemma's beverage: a Coke with a shot of vanilla syrup.
Some afternoons, when she sat at the bar, Larry asked Gemma about growing up in London. Gemma practiced her Spanish. They'd watch movies on the screen above the bar as theytalked.
Today, at three in the afternoon, Gemma was seated on the corner barstool, still wearing her grey swimsuit and makeup. Larry wore a Sofitel Legend white blazer and T-shirt. Stubble was growing on his jaw. ”What's the movie?” she asked him, looking up at the flatscreen.
”Hulk.”
”Which Hulk?”
”I don't know.”
”You put the DVD in. How can you not know?”
”I don't even know there's two Hulks.”
”There's three Hulks. Wait, I take that back. Multiple Hulks. If you count TV, cartoons, all that.”
”I don't know which Hulk it is, Ms. Wilder.”
The movie went on for a bit. Larry rinsed glasses and wiped the counter. He made a scotch and soda for a woman who took it off to the other end of the pool area.
”It's the second-best Hulk,” said Gemma, when she had his attention again. ”What's the word for Scotch in Spanish?”
”Escocés.”
”Escocés. What's a good kind to get?”
”You never drink.”
”But if I did.”
”Maker's Mark,” Larry said, shrugging. ”I'll pour you some samples and you tell me which one you like.” He filled five shot glasses with different brands of highend Scotch. He explained about Scotches and whiskeys and why you'd order one and not the other. Gemma tasted each but didn't drink much.
Gemma made a funny face. ”This one smells like armpit,” she told him.
”You're crazy.” he says laughing.
”And this one smells like lighter fluid.”