The Northville Review
an online literary journal
Ménage à Trois

Len Joy

1

Menage a Trois


Richie Thomas sat at the bar between two chicks – a platinum sizzler with a killer bod drinking her whiskey neat (and just by the way she tried to ignore him, Richie could tell she wanted him) and a Marian-the-librarian nursing some foufou ladies’ drink – and while Sizzler looked like a sure thing and Marian was definitely a longshot, Richie, with his minty-fresh binaca breath, felt especially good about himself tonight and was ready for that challenge.

Brenda, wearing Amanda’s ridiculously tight cocktail dress, ordered another shot of Wild Turkey from the muscled-up Fabio behind the bar and figured she’d probably need at least one more shot before she’d be drunk enough to pick up the poor schmuck on the stool next to her who didn’t look like he’d ever been laid, and for a moment Brenda felt sorry that it had to end like this for him, but she got over it and quickly finished the shot.

Amanda savored her Metropolitan and wished that Brandy could pick up the stud serving the drinks instead of the loser sitting next to them – the bartender would be a worthy plaything (not like Mr. Old Spice who would probably come before Amanda could slip that beautiful silk rope around his neck) – but that was against their rules – bartenders were off limits – at least for now.

Barry topped off the lady’s drink, poured another shot of whiskey for the tacky blonde, and then turned his attention to Mr. Thomas who was kind of cute for an old guy.


2

Menage a Trois

Brenda, wearing Amanda’s ridiculously tight cocktail dress, ordered another shot of Wild Turkey from the muscled-up Fabio behind the bar and figured she’d probably need at least one more shot before she’d be drunk enough to pick up the poor schmuck on the stool next to her who didn’t look like he’d ever been laid, and for a moment Brenda felt sorry that it had to end like this for him, but she got over it and quickly finished the shot.

Amanda savored her Metropolitan and wished that Brandy could pick up the stud serving the drinks instead of the loser sitting next to them – the bartender would be a worthy plaything (not like Mr. Old Spice who would probably come before Amanda could slip that beautiful silk rope around his neck) – but that was against their rules – bartenders were off limits – at least for now.

Barry topped off the lady’s drink, poured another shot of whiskey for the tacky blonde, and then turned his attention to Mr. Thomas who was kind of cute for an old guy.

Richie Thomas sat at the bar between two chicks – a platinum sizzler with a killer bod drinking her whiskey neat (and just by the way she tried to ignore him, Richie could tell she wanted him) and a Marian-the-librarian nursing some foufou ladies’ drink – and while Sizzler looked like a sure thing and Marian was definitely a longshot, Richie, with his minty-fresh binaca breath, felt especially good about himself tonight and was ready for that challenge.


3

Menage a Trois

Amanda savored her Metropolitan and wished that Brandy could pick up the stud serving the drinks instead of the loser sitting next to them – the bartender would be a worthy plaything (not like Mr. Old Spice who would probably come before Amanda could slip that beautiful silk rope around his neck) – but that was against their rules – bartenders were off limits – at least for now.

Barry topped off the lady’s drink, poured another shot of whiskey for the tacky blonde, and then turned his attention to Mr. Thomas who was kind of cute for an old guy.

Richie Thomas sat at the bar between two chicks – a platinum sizzler with a killer bod drinking her whiskey neat (and just by the way she tried to ignore him, Richie could tell she wanted him) and a Marian-the-librarian nursing some foufou ladies’ drink – and while Sizzler looked like a sure thing and Marian was definitely a longshot, Richie, with his minty-fresh binaca breath, felt especially good about himself tonight and was ready for that challenge.

Brenda, wearing Amanda’s ridiculously tight cocktail dress, ordered another shot of Wild Turkey from the muscled-up Fabio behind the bar and figured she’d probably need at least one more shot before she’d be drunk enough to pick up the poor schmuck on the stool next to her who didn’t look like he’d ever been laid, and for a moment Brenda felt sorry that it had to end like this for him, but she got over it and quickly finished the shot.


4

Menage a Trois

Barry topped off the lady’s drink, poured another shot of whiskey for the tacky blonde, and then turned his attention to Mr. Thomas who was kind of cute for an old guy.

Richie Thomas sat at the bar between two chicks – a platinum sizzler with a killer bod drinking her whiskey neat (and just by the way she tried to ignore him, Richie could tell she wanted him) and a Marian-the-librarian nursing some foufou ladies’ drink – and while Sizzler looked like a sure thing and Marian was definitely a longshot, Richie, with his minty-fresh binaca breath, felt especially good about himself tonight and was ready for that challenge.

Brenda, wearing Amanda’s ridiculously tight cocktail dress, ordered another shot of Wild Turkey from the muscled-up Fabio behind the bar and figured she’d probably need at least one more shot before she’d be drunk enough to pick up the poor schmuck on the stool next to her who didn’t look like he’d ever been laid, and for a moment Brenda felt sorry that it had to end like this for him, but she got over it and quickly finished the shot.

Amanda savored her Metropolitan and wished that Brandy could pick up the stud serving the drinks instead of the loser sitting next to them – the bartender would be a worthy plaything (not like Mr. Old Spice who would probably come before Amanda could slip that beautiful silk rope around his neck) – but that was against their rules – bartenders were off limits – at least for now.

About the author

Len Joy lives in Evanston, Illinois. Recent work has appeared in Annalemma, Bartleby & Snopes, Pindeldyboz, LITnIMAGE, Hobart, 3AM Magazine, Righthand Pointing, Dogzplot, Slow Trains, 21Stars Review, The Foundling Review and The Daily Palette (Iowa Review). He has recently completed a novel, "American Jukebox," about a minor league baseball player whose life unravels after he fails to make it to the major leagues. His blog, "Do Not Go Gentle." (http://lenjoy.blogspot.com/) chronicles his pursuit of USA Triathlon Age-Group Championships.