“I figured it was time to cut bait and told her as much, but that I’d also like to see her
again. She asked if I’d escort her to a tango parlor. She said it’d been so long since she went
dancing she forgot how much fun it was. She said she hadn’t learned how to tango, but as it was
all the rage, she wanted to see what the riot was all about. I told her I’d be delighted to introduce
her to the tango, and we setup up another lunch date for a few days later.’
“The day came and I put on that double-breasted, linen number I picked up at Brooks
Brothers on Madison Avenue. You know, the one I wear when I need to look like money. I
cleaned up my silk spats; polished up my shoes; tied up my red, polka-dotted bow tie; and put on
my boater cocked just like how I showed you. I was high styling.’
“We met outside the Mayflower Club and I could tell she was excited to see me. I showed
up with that pearl bracelet I picked up from the Switzer girl and she went nuts when I put it
around her wrist. She went on and on saying how it’s been so long since a man had given her
anything. I told her it was a relic from my wealthier days.’
“You see, you’ve got to be like those Wall Street fat cats; you’ve got to invest in a lie.
Nobody wants to believe they’re being lied to. Everyone wants to think the best of people, and
everyone thinks stocks only go up. You’ve got to work the lie, and feed it, and when it gets big
and fat and so bloated it’s sure to burst, you cash it in. I’m not worried about that bracelet. I’ll get
it back when I clean her out.’
“So we sat down and did the lunch bit again, only this time, she was able to watch the
dancing. It was all straight tango, and she soaked up every step. When the bill came, I shot her a
glance and she slipped me her purse again. I pocketed my scratch and we both smiled at each
other, happy as can be.’
“I took her out on the floor and showed her some basics and we got moving well enough.
I told her I’d been trained by a Frenchman in the tango. I knew the real deal. I told her to relax
and follow my lead and she’d pick it up soon enough. We were making our way around the floor
nice and easy when she whispered to me that she’d heard about cutting and wanted to know if I’d
show it to her. Can you believe this swordfish? I wanted to marry her right on the spot. I was
more than happy to oblige and I swear, if I didn’t know better, it was almost like she led me into
it. We got a few looks, so I told her we’d have to cool it. Cutting wasn’t really allowed in this
sort of place. We sat down and she just loved it. She couldn’t stop talking about how she loved
the tango.’
“I’ll tell you the truth; if she weren’t hooked-up I think I could marry this girl. We’re two
fish of the same school. Maybe if I’m lucky the Colonel will find a shortcut to the ground and I’ll
have a war widow. I swear, I’d be one retired lounge lizard then. I really could marry this girl.
She’s that good…and her house must be loaded.’
“We danced all afternoon, and I’d have kept on going, but she said she had to go. She
said she really wanted to see me again, only this time, she wanted to get ritzy. She said she
wanted to see the Follies, eat dinner, and dance all night. She also said she wanted me to pick her
up at her place. She said she’d be waiting at the front door at 9pm and she wanted to know,
‘What kind of relic are you bringing me this time?’ You know what that means? That means
tonight is the night I cash in my story. But before I do, I’m going to bring her this.”
He pulled a diamond necklace out of his pocket. It was unremarkable until you saw the
pendant. The shine on it was so deep and bright you could almost see the vapor in your breath
20