#oswalds'

This City eats people.

A woman walked into my club this evening. Refined, elegant, well dressed. She took a seat at my bar and by chance I was polishing glasses, casting a conspicuous glance at my patrons. It's important they know I'm watching.

She ordered a shot of gin over ice with lemon, thanked my bar tender and began to drink it quietly without so much as a moment's notice to her surrounds.

What could such a beautiful woman be doing alone on a Saturday night, unescorted in a city so dangerous? I didn't recognize her face. Nor did security.

After twenty minutes I sauntered toward her, refreshed her drink.

"Are you enjoying yourself Madam?" I had to ask.

She smiled in return. And I saw a sadness in her eyes.

"I've had a difficult day." The lady began. "You see, all morning I was watching a lineman working outside my apartment window, repairing a broken cable. I must have watched him for the better part of an hour without moving so as I lost all track of time."

"And where was it that your difficulty began?" I simply had to ask as I watched the lady down her drink. She smiled at me and answered.