Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody
I've got some money 'cause I just got paid
Now how I wish I had someone to talk to
I'm in an awful way.
Ugh, thank God I don't have to work tonight, I sighed and tossed my heavy bag to the floor. I closed and locked my door behind me and fumbled for the light switch. Fluorescent beams flooded my vision, blinding me temporarily. I wiggled out of my clogs and nudged my bag across the hard wood floor with my foot. I stopped at my desk, crouched, and removed a notebook from my bag. I pulled the chair out and sat down. I'm a screenwriter (or that's what my college degree says) and I'm a bartender at a local bar, Rascals. I had an idea forming for a scene in my latest script and couldn't wait to get home to get it out of my head. I scribbled down a few notes to myself and made a bathroom run. Ugh, these towels need scrubbin... I gathered them up, grabbed my keys, and headed downstairs for the washers.
I returned and put a CD into my stereo. Soft music is great to write by. As the sounds filled the room, I resumed my place at my desk. At this moment, it also served as my kitchen table and a general "catch-all." I moved it right under the window sometime last week so I could get the best light... and the best view. Have to get ideas from somewhere, right? I unclipped my pager from my pocket and set it down on my notebook, turning it to "sound and vibrate." I sighed contentedly and stood again, this time to get changed into something more comfortable.
Returning in a tank top and pajama pants, I pulled my hair back from my face and sat back down. Before I could do that, I was forced to shut my window; the rain had just started. There's no way I'm going to get any work tonight, I yawned. I'm too tired... Maybe a power nap will do me some good... I rested my elbow on the desk and placed my chin in it, shutting my eyes. The rain soon lulled me off to slumber.
...
I got in town a month ago
I seen a lot of girls since then,
If I could meet 'em I could get 'em
But as yet I haven't met 'em
That's how I'm in the state I'm in.
...
I had to get away. I couldn't stand spending another night with those guys. I jotted down a note and left the hotel with my bag of belongings. I was happy we were spending the night in Monterey on our way from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Kate lives here. I haven't seen her in so long...
I stepped out onto the front steps of the hotel and dug for my address book in my bag. I came across her name and smiled. I hailed a taxi and luckily one stopped quickly. It had just begun to rain. I was soon standing outside her apartment building. I ran to the door, found her name once again, and buzzed up to her apartment. No answer. But the lights are on. I buzzed again with no avail. Luckily the cab driver stayed to make sure I got in. I ran back towards the car. "Where to now?"
"Uhm..." I paused to find her name once again. I had her work number listed somewhere in here... "How about Rascals?" The cabbie nodded and drove me off to my destination, a block away. I paid my fare and stepped out of the cab. I ran inside and headed towards the bar. A gal about Kate's age was working. "Hi... Could I receive a call here?"
"Depends from who," she smiled as she poured a drink and gave it to a man at the bar.
"My friend Kate, she works here."
"Sure, sweetheart." She pulled the phone from under the bar and set it in front of me. I dialed Kate's pager number quickly, left a short message, and hung up. I repeated the same, only with a different message, a moment later. Luckily, the bar's phone number was right on the phone.
...
Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody
I've got some money 'cause I just got paid
Now how I wish I had someone to talk to
I'm in an awful way.
...
The next thing I remember, my pager was beeping incessantly and rattling against my forehead. I rubbed the side of my face that was lying on my notebook. Must have slipped... I stretched my arms above my head and reached for the pager to turn off that blasted sound. I read the screen. 911. "911?" My head went blank. "911... 911... D," I smiled. I made a deal with my friend, Howie, that whenever he needed something but was away on the road, he'd page me with "911" and then with the number he was at. So I waited. Damn slow service... My pager began to rattle against my many rings. "454-5546." What's he doing there?
I searched for my phone and plugged it back into the wall. That could be why he didn't just call me... I dialed the number quickly. "Rascals," my friend Sue answered.
"Sue, it's Kate... Did I just get a page from this number?"
"Uhm, yeah... I think you did actually."
"From who?"
"I don't know who he is... I've never seen him before. But damn, girl, he's fine..."
"What's he look like?" I asked, just in case it wasn't Howie.
"He's about your height I think... long curly brown hair, big brown eyes, a goatee, and the most precious pout I've ever seen on a man." I could tell that either she was looking straight at him or she burned his image onto her brain. "You know him?"
"Yeah, I know who he is."
"Alright, hang on." She finally handed the phone over.
"Hello?"
"Dorough?"
"Kitty Cat? Oh God, I'm so relieved I've finally gotten a hold of you," he sighed. I've known him for years and for some odd reason, he had always insisted on calling me 'Kitty Cat.' We even shared an apartment during college. The apartment was small and we even had to share a bed. This was fine with both of us since we were so close. He annoyed me to no end most of the time.
"D, why are you at Rascals?"
"It's a long story. Would you mind a roomie for the night?"
"Alright, come on up, I'll buzz ya in."
...
Another fella told me
He had a sister who looked just fine
Instead of bein' my deliverance
She had a strange resemblance
To a cat named Frankenstein.
...
Five minutes later, the buzzer by my door sounded. I hit a button and invited him up. I heard the elevator DING and the sound of heavy steps approaching my door. He knocked softly as not to wake my neighbors. After all, it was nearly 1 AM. I opened the door for him and he just smiled so innocently at me. I laughed. He was drenched from the rainfall and looked like a drowned rat. After a moment of just looking at each other, he pulled me into a strong hug. "I've missed you so much, Kitty," he smiled into my hair.
"You too sweetie," I whispered and pulled away to shut and lock the door. "Damnit D, now I'm all wet," I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Don't tease me," he winked in return. He dropped his heavy bag next to his feet.
"You're going to get sick being out in the rain like that. Bathroom's down the hall, first door on the right."
"You're so good to me." I rolled my eyes. He turned towards the bathroom but turned back. "By the way, nice... uhm... face," he winked at me.
I rubbed my face, trying to get rid of the spiral wire marks. "Fell asleep."
"I can tell," he laughed. He turned again towards the bathroom. It was good to have Howie back.
...
Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody
I've got some money 'cause I just got paid
Now how I wish I had someone to talk to
I'm in an awful way.
...
After his shower, Howie opened the door to the bathroom and called to me. "Kitty Cat, could you bring me my bag? All my dry clothes are in there."
"This ain't a full service hotel, Ducky, you can come get it yourself." Since he started calling me 'Kitty Cat,' I called him Ducky... As in Howard the Duck... From that God awful movie...
"No dry clothes," he felt he needed to remind me.
"Nothin I ain't seen before." Sure, I could have been nice and taken his bag to him, but I didn't feel like getting up. I was perfectly comfortable sprawled out in my big, comfortable chair and reading a book. He thought a moment before I heard the bathroom door open. I looked up. He darted out of the bathroom for his bag and then right back in. My chair had a full view of the bathroom hall and a full view of the naked Howard running. I laughed and returned to my book. "Cute behind, Ducky," I called. "By the way, the towels are in the wash."
"Thanks for telling me," he returned. After a few moments he emerged from the bathroom, his hair sopping wet. "Could have told me the towel bit earlier."
"And miss seeing your cute naked behind? I don't think so."
"And this whole bit about me being sick because I'm all wet?"
"There's hand towels in the kitchen. Go to the sink, third drawer down on the left." He retrieved a towel and dried what he could of his hair. He returned and bounced on my bed. "Care to tell me why you're in these parts?"
"Long story."
"I have time." I closed my book, stood, and began walking to the door.
"Kicking me out already?"
"No, but my towels should be done in the washer. We can talk and fold." He nodded and slowly approached me. He had this menacing look in his eyes that I knew all too well. "Uh oh..." I ran towards the door and cussed myself for dead bolting it. He slid towards me, slipped, grabbed onto me, and dragged me to the floor with him, where he proceeded with tickling me. "Howard!" I giggled and shrieked. I tickled him back and in the process, kicked his shin. He groaned and rolled off of me. He laughed contently. "Sorry Ducky," I giggled.
"That's what I get for waking you up? Remind me not to from now on," he smiled.
...
Howie, the gracious guest that he is, tossed my towels into the dryer I was perched upon next to my faithful pink laundry basket. "So anyway, we're on our tour and things are goin real bad lately." I nodded and continued to listen. "Tomorrow's our last show but we stayed in San Francisco for the night last night so we wouldn't have to spend all night on the bus. Everyone's arguing. Brian and Nick. Brian and Kevin. AJ and Nick. Kevin, being the oldest, has his own room, but the rest of us doubled up. Because Brian and Nick were fighting, AJ and I agreed to split them up... and of course, Nick had to stay with me. And all he did was whine and complain... I was trying to sleep so I just threw a pillow at him and tried to sleep. After a while, he was asleep too. And snoring. I swear I was in a train station! It was so awful. So I got no sleep. Yesterday we were back on the bus, off to another city to do another show. And we decided to stop here for the night. Same sleeping arrangements as last night. When I heard Nick snoring, I got up, packed my bag, scribbled down a note, and left."
"You just left?"
"I left a note..."
"Alright, Ducky, what did the note say?"
"That I was fed up with everything and I was going off on my own for a few days."
"And the show tomorrow?"
"I said in the note to tell everyone I was sick."
"Oh, Kevin's not going to be happy with you in the morning."
"He never is."
"I thought you were sorta like the peacemaker?"
"I can only take so much..." he whined. I nodded. "So the rest of the guys are going home after the show tomorrow..."
"And you?" He just looked up at me and smiled. "Alright, you can stay with me. But I'm warning ya, I kick."
"I'm used to that by now," he groaned.
...
After our tickle fight, his story, and folding my towels, it was half past two when we returned to my apartment. I dropped the basket to floor as soon as we returned. "Past my bed time," I yawned. I slowly made my way towards my bed when Howie decided to race me. We broke into a full sprint, jumped, and landed on the bed at the same time. Giggling, we crawled under the covers.
"Thanks for letting me bunk with you, I really appreciate it."
"No problem, Ducky," I yawned.
"Night, Kitty."
"Night, Ducky." Out of habit, we both leaned in and gave one another a quick peck on the lips. No biggie. Howie loves hugging and kissing. I blame the big family. We laid still for a few moments, almost not sure how to act around one another. "Aw, hell with it," I muttered.
"What's that?"
"You've always made a better pillow," I smiled and curled up against him. He opened his arms wide and I laid my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. I wrapped my arms around him as he did the same and softly played with my hair. Within moments, we were both fast asleep.
...
It's hard on a fella
When he don't know his way around
If I don't find me a honey
To help me spend my money
I'm gonna have to blow this town.
...
Sometime around five, I was wide awake. I already had managed to slip from Howie's strong hold and was thinking about running to the bathroom. I slipped from beneath the covers and padded my way to the bathroom. After I finished my business, I padded back but made a pit stop in the kitchen to make a cup of tea. "That you, Miss Kitty?" I heard Howie mumble. I cursed the light sleeper.
"Yep, only me, Ducky."
"What are you doing up?"
"Bathroom."
He sat up in bed and glanced at the clock. "The guys should be getting up around now," he grumbled and got up from the bed.
"Lie back down, you haven't slept much lately."
"How'd you know that?"
"Have you looked in the mirror lately?"
"Well... you're up," he smirked.
"I don't sleep, remember?"
He padded across the apartment and into the kitchen, where he hopped up onto the countertop. "And I haven't seen you in a long time."
"Fine. Want a cup of tea?"
"Sounds good to me."
I removed two mugs from the cabinet and set some water on the stove to boil. "What's the big deal with the guys getting up around now? I thought you just said you were getting away for a little bit."
"Yeah, but I left your pager number in the note in case they needed to get in touch with me."
As if on cue, I heard my pager rattling on the desk. "Perfect timing." I retrieved it and looked at the number. "It's them. You want to call or should I?"
"You do it. Give them a little scare."
I nodded and picked up the cordless extension of the phone from the counter beside me. I punched in the number. Finally someone picked up. "Howie?"
"Nope, last I checked I wasn't Howie," I answered.
"Then who is this?"
"You tell me, sweetheart, you paged me."
I heard the male on the other end of the line sigh. "Is Howie around?"
"Who wants to know?"
"It's AJ." I giggled. Apparently he didn't like that too much. "Alright, who the hell is this?"
"We went through this already, sweetheart. You paged me."
"Fine. Is he around or not?"
I was beginning to annoy him. "AJ, no need to get your panties in a bind, it's Kate."
"Kate?" He paused to think. "Kate... as in Kitty Cat?"
"Guilty," I smiled. "What's up?"
"Not too much darlin. How've you been?"
"I'm waiting for my bad day to hit me."
Someone else took the phone. "Is Howie around?" he grumbled.
"Kevin?"
"Yeah. Where is he?"
"Well don't say hi or anything..."
"Hi, Kate. Where's Howie?"
"That's better." I glanced at Howie who was desperately trying to make me get AJ back on the line. "Uhm... How about this... I do something for you but only if you do something for me."
These Boys don't like early mornings much. "Fine, what?"
"If you put AJ back on, I'll give the phone to Ducky. Deal?"
"I want to talk to him."
"Come on, Pumpkin, don't make me get mean..."
"Fine, hang on." He handed the phone back to AJ.
"Howie?"
"Nope, still Kate. Hang on." I passed the phone off to Howie who was looking very nervous.
"AJ? Yeah, I know I shouldn't have left... Come on, man, you've done it before... Tell them I'm sick or something, I needed a break... Yes, that's why I came to Kate's... I don't know when I'll be back; I need a break... I know it's the last show, but I had to get away from everyone... No, I'm not telling you where she lives... I'll be home in a few days; I haven't seen her in a while... I know I'm supposed to be responsible... Exactly, and that's why I left, so I wouldn't kill someone... Listen, I'll be home in a few days, man... Yeah, I'll give ya a buzz when I get there... Honest, I will... Later, man." He was just about to hang up the phone when I heard someone yell his name through the phone. He immediately gave it back to me.
"Kevin?"
"Put him back on the phone!"
"Kevin, don't get all huffy. I'll take care of him here."
"Our last show is tonight! Management will have his head!"
"Come on, Kev, be reasonable."
"I'm as reasonable as they come," he grumbled.
"Didn't you take a few days off when you hurt your shoulder trying to be cool?"
"It wasn't the last show of the tour."
"That doesn't matter. You took a break and so can he."
"Kate, please just put him back on."
"I don't think so, darlin."
"Kate..."
"I'm hanging up now, Kevin. Have a good show."
"Kate!" I heard his muffled yell as I took the phone from my ear and hung it up.
"Thanks for covering me," Howie said sheepishly.
"You would have done the same for me." The water on the stove began to whistle. "Would you like some crumpets with your tea?" I asked with my best English accent.
"No thank you, just the tea will be fine," he responded in the same dialect. We both burst out laughing.
...
After our tea and some talk, we finally headed back to bed until around noon. I dragged him out of the apartment so I could show him around town. He was here in Monterey once before to visit me but he had to leave right after that to go to a show. So I took him to the aquarium. We spent most of the afternoon there and had a great time. We watched the seals and sea lions on the rocks outside and got to touch the starfish. We stopped by the penguin exhibit and he made me bust out laughing as he imitated the tuxedo-wearing flightless birds. After we left the aquarium, he said he wanted to take me out to dinner so he could pay me back for my room and board. I'm not one to pass up a free meal. At the restaurant, we continued to goof around. We laughed ourselves silly. After a while I just sat back and smiled. "Want to share your secret?"
"I just realized something," I smiled.
"And what's that?"
"I finally realized why you're my best friend, Ducky." And that he was. With me, he didn't have to worry about how to act. With me, he wasn't a worldwide music superstar... He was just... Ducky. He was my best friend.
He just smiled at me. "You're my best friend, too." He reached across the table and took my hand. "Thanks for never changing."
"Change is boring," I smiled. This sent him into a fit of giggles again. Finally our food arrived. The older woman who was our waitress smiled at us sweetly and nodded like she knew something was going on. We calmed down to eat. "I don't want to go choking again," I explained.
"What, you don't want to experience my wonderful life saving techniques again?" He looked almost hurt. Of course he was talking about the party he threw for me before I moved to here from Orlando. He did something that made me crack up while I was eating and I ended up choking. His "wonderful lifesaving technique" was the Heimlich... It worked, but I thought he was going to kill me in the process. My stomach was bruised for a month.
"Not today. Not in the mood for any new bruises."
"It'll give you something to remember me by."
"Trust me, I don't need any more remembrances."
...
I was set to work that night, but Sue said she'd cover for me, being that I had company and all. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," she warned.
"Come on, he's my best friend... That stuff just isn't right." Let me extract the foot from my mouth now.
...
That night, we tried to fall asleep early. Of course it didn't work because we both were so wired from all of the goofiness of the day. So, we watched a movie. I pulled the first tape from my closet I could find, and of course, it had to be a romance. We were goofing around and imitating the people on the screen for most of the movie. "Oh Dahling, kiss me," I whispered in my most seductive tone, trying not to laugh.
"Oh Dahling, of course," he imitated. We leaned in and gave one another a peck on the lips, like any time before. But this wasn't any time before. We pulled away and just looked at each other for a moment. We leaned in again, but this wasn't just any Kitty Cat and Ducky peck, this was a full-blown kiss. After a moment, we pulled away and looked at one another again.
"Did that just happen?"
"I think so..." he looked almost confused and sat back into the couch. There were no words to describe what had happened... It just happened. After a few moments of silence, he invited me to lay my head in his lap. But were we back to normal, or were we contemplating the incident?
...
I can't begin to explain how it felt when I kissed her... and I mean really kissed her. We've given each other good night kisses before and those never really mattered, and we were just goofing off... But if we were just goofing off, why didn't she back away when we kissed again? Could she want more? Has she always wanted more out of us? Did I? Oh God, I have to stop talking to myself. I'll just end up ruining a good thing. Should I just ask her about it?
...
Wow... he kissed me... He really kissed me... an honest-to-God kiss. Wow.. But now what happens? Did he want for that to happen? I don't even know if I wanted that to happen... It just happened... Could this turn into something more? Do I want it to? Does he? Ugh, I'm talking to myself again...
...
I reached for the remote and turned the TV and VCR off. Time to talk. It's go time. "What happened there, Ducky?" I never moved my head from his lap; I was afraid to look into his eyes. I knew if I looked into his eyes, I would fall in complete, head-over-heels love with him.
"I... I don't know, Kitten."
"Did you want it to happen?"
"No. I mean yes. No, I mean no... Ugh, I don't know, Kitten."
"It just, sorta... happened?"
"Sorta."
"Any regrets?"
"None. You?"
"None." I sighed. It just happened... no more explanation necessary. He didn't plan it and neither did I. It just happened. "So now what?"
"What do you think we should do?"
"That's why I asked you."
He shook his head. "No idea." He sighed. "Should we try this? And if things don't work out, we'll always be close."
"Sounds good to me."
He turned my face up to look at him. "Are you sure?"
"As sure as anything, Howard," I smiled at him. Things never felt so right. He reached over and turned off the lamp next to him. He began to hum a tune I knew but couldn't place. "What are you humming, Howard?"
"Nothing."
"Come on, tell me?"
He smiled. "You are... my fire, the one... desire..."
I smiled. "You too, Ducky. You too."
...
He stayed for a week and decided that he should return home Saturday... three days from now. This past week was so special... For once, I was happy. I was finally happy. And he had to return home across the country. We were lying in bed one night, trying to fall asleep. "Come home, Kitten," he whispered.
"I am home, Howard."
"No, back to Orlando."
"Monterey is my home, Howard."
"There's so much more for you back in Orlando..."
"I'm sorry, Howard, but I can't come back with you."
"Why though?"
I sighed. "Because I got something in the mail the day before you came here. I can't come with you because I have to go to Los Angeles for a few months." I was thrilled to tears when I opened this letter. Little did I know what would happen when Howard showed up.
"Los Angeles? For what?"
"One of my screenplays... They're turning it into a movie... I have to be there. They might even have me direct it."
"Wow... That's definitely... Wow..." Howard was stunned speechless. I could pick up on the sadness in his voice that was barely overcome by his happiness for me. He knew I struggled with my writing for a long time and that I was just waiting for my "big break."
"I'm sorry, Howard," I whispered. I was on the verge of tears.
"No, don't be sorry, Kitten. This is your big break. I'm happy for you, really. There's always after production. My place will always be open to you, I know you know that."
"I won't make a promise I can't keep."
"Then don't promise. You have my address in Orlando and my numbers... Just give me a call every once in a while to let me know how things are going with production."
"I do want to come, Howard, and I'm really sorry I can't." I knew I had disappointed him.
...
We spent the next few days just being together. Neither of us had been in a relationship for a long time and we were getting used to having one another around again. I honestly felt I was falling in love with him. I know I was. I just couldn't say it.
Saturday came and I took him to the airport. It was a tearful goodbye, but we knew it was for the best. He had to tend to his music career and I'd be heading off to Los Angeles soon for the production of my movie. We're best friends and always will be. And best friends can turn into lovers. But can this love I was beginning to feel stand the test of time, music, movies, media, and miles?
"I'll call when I get home, I promise."
"I'll be waiting by the phone. And don't let Kevin beat you too bad."
"If he does, I'll call you and you can bitch him out."
"Sounds like one hell of a plan."
The final call for his flight was announced. "Looks like I have to go. I wish you could come with me."
"Me too, but this is my big break..."
"I know, and I wouldn't change that for anything. Just mention me when you win your Academy Award?"
"Only if you're my date."
He smiled. "And don't take too hot of a guy to the premier."
"The only hot guy there will be you, Howard. And the rest of the Boys will be there too. Send them my love."
"Only if you send me yours."
"What?"
He pulled me into a huge hug and kissed me sweetly. "I love you, Kitten."
"I love you, Ducky."
...
Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody
I've got some money 'cause I just got paid
How I wish I had someone to talk to
I'm in an awful, ooh, I'm in an awful way,
He's in an awful way; I'm in an awful way,
I'm in an awful way; He's in an awful way. *
...
* Lyrics to "Another Saturday Night" by Cat Stevens.
