Excellent Which came first, the mirror or the woman... The Truth Seems Fitting by Reese Turner Two women sit at a deserted bar writing prompt entry

Elizabeth sat nursing her dry martini near the end of the long bar alone. Really alone. Mid-afternoon, the lunch crowd was completely gone from this nice, neighborhood pub and the rowdy, after-work commuters had not yet arrived. In walked Jeanette, chose a bar chair halfway down the bar, hung her purse and settled in. "The usual, Jeanette?" "Indeed! How ya' been, Bobby?" "Business is comin' back a little. Sure good to see you again." "Yeah, I'm getting out of the house more and I was having those fantasies again about island places so I just had to have one of your Pina Coladas -- they're the best!" "Thanks, Jeanette, and how's that martini?" he said as he smiled down Elizabeth's direction. "It was good, but I have not had a Pina Colada in years. Not since my ex and I were in Hawaii. I've heard yours are the best, is that true?" Responded Elizabeth. "Absolutely", interrupted Jeanette, "but, don't drink two or you'll be seeing boogie boards and young men in Speedos!" "I think I'd enjoy seeing some young men in Speedos, but I'll have just one Pina, please." Jeanette swiveled her chair toward the end of the bar where Elizabeth sat, "would you like to have some company with that Pina. I'd love to share a Pina and stories about young men in Speedos," as she grabbed her purse and Pina and walked toward Elizabeth. Settling in, "I'm Jeanette. I live around here. So, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" "Escaping. Just escaping all the noise and electronic inter-galactic alien atomizers that my boys have turned up all the way. Escaping the fights and the sink full of dishes and the dog and the..." "At least you don't have a husband at home -- I heard you refer to your ex -- like I have. He has the baseball game on the TV. Turned up loud. Why does anyone turn baseball up loud? Like, why does boring have to be loud, seriously?" Elizabeth's Pina Colada arrived. As bartender Bobby sat it down, he, in his mid-50s and mid-200s asked, "now, if I was wearing a Speedo, would I get a bigger tip?" "That's going to be a tough mental image to erase, Bobby babe. We'll call you if we need you," laughed Jeanette, as she toasted, "To the peace and quiet of a ladies' bar for escape. No men, no kids, no dogs, no TV noise, just us gals!" "Amen" laughed Elizabeth, "But, for escape, I miss malls. Do you miss malls? Malls were my best escape. Malls were pretty, and exciting -- all the different stores and shops. All the nice clothes on racks. Taking four or five items into the fitting room and trying them on. I loved that! With COVID and on-line buying, malls are closing. They seem to be more dangerous. It is different and I miss it." "Wow! You've been reading my mail! I loved the really nice malls. The Galleria was my home away from home, my Taj Mahal. My trip to the mall was a day at the mall -- lunch at a nice little bistro, afternoon toddy for my body, and speaking of body, on occasion, a visit to the spa there was my treat to me!" "You're talkin' Larry's Lady Lounge! Oh yes. Been there, done that! Nice massage, nail trim, the works!" "Shhhhhhhh!", whispered Jeanette, "Something else I enjoyed, but don't tell anyone, was trying on bras. People think those really nice bras are to excite men's attention, but after you're married, who's attention you gonna excite? Your husband probably won't notice and won't compliment you anyway. But, I like the way I look in a fancy bra -- its my 'I am definitely a woman' thing, so I would pick out some nice ones, you know, different colors and frilly styles, and take them in to the fitting room for a style show. I'd put on a beauty and pose in the mirror, turning side to side, and say to myself, "Jeanette, honey, you still got it! You got the curves, you got the perk. You're lookin' good!" Elizabeth laughed and turned red. Head down, quietly, very quietly with her hand over her mouth, "I cannot believe it! Just like me! I'm a secret, fitting room "Teddy Model". The naughtier, the better! You should see me play, "Pretty in Pink" in the fitting room. You know, I'm sorry I never thought of using my smart phone to take a picture of me in some of those outfits. I never bought any as that was going nowhere, but I sure liked to see me be me!" "Are you ladies still talking about young men in Speedos?" asked Bobby the bartender walking down their direction. "Talkin'? We're walkin'. Where do you think we could find some Speedo guys today?" asked Jeanette "Not around here. But in a half-hour or so, should be lots of older men in business suits." "No thanks," moaned Elizabeth, "Been there. Done that, too. Just my check, please." "Yeah. Me too. Say, Liz, let's do the big mall together. How about we enjoy the Galleria together and do the day, the spa, the racks, the bistro, everything -- let's brave the new norm and be mall gals again!" "You're on. Here's my number. Let's check our calendars for a gal-get-away day... "Ciao-Ciao" "Bye-bye Bobby. You're still my main man!" "You girls stay out of trouble now..." Writing Prompt Write a story using the premise two woman sit at an otherwise deserted bar. They share a secret. They strike up a friendship.

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