A Strange Request at a Piano Bar

When my mom asked me to go out with her tonight, this was not what I had in mind. I mean, not that I wanted to go to a strip club or anything. But a piano bar? Well, that’s better than a regular bar, where someone I knew could see me. 

From what I could tell, there were nothing but middle aged women in the room, all dressed in their Sunday’s best, the slutty version. Well as slutty as middle age women would allow themselves to be. Lots of wrap dresses with their best wigs on, still with the black tights and closed toe pumps or sandals. But also a lot of shimmer with these dresses and bright red lipstick. 

And here I was dressed in an all black dress, with no optical effect, flats, no wig (just my afro pulled into a bun) and a giant bag with a book in it to distract me. Basically, I came as a Black librarian. But what did I care? It wasn’t like I wanted to swoon over some old dude crooning over the keys. 

Mom ushered us to a table up front, dead in the center. That way we could get the best view of the piano player. The table was covered in a deep burgundy, velvet table cloth. In fact the whole place was draped in velvet. Not to mention the low, soft white lighting, it all oozed sophisticated romance. That was the only way to describe it. 

A man in a wrinkled button down and khaki pants with a headset came onstage and instantly the room erupted in elderly woman woos. I immediately took out my book and tried to disappear behind the pages. 

“Sorry ladies, it’ll just be a few more minutes for Jaques. Bare with us,” the MC, I assumed, spoke into the mic in a gruff voice. And then he was gone. 

The name sounded french and for a moment I wondered if the music would be in french or english. Maybe that’s why Mom brought me here. She did take French in high school.

I got my answer as a young, smooth skin, black man walked out from behind the curtain with the brightest smile and sharpest tux I’d ever seen. From the top of his head to the close shaven beard across his chin to the shine in his shoes, brotha was nice. And I could see why my mom and all these other ladies were dressed to impress. He was impressive. 

I couldn’t stop staring at him. He was the most gorgeous looking man I had ever laid eyes on. Where the hell had he been hiding? Why didn’t my mom tell me about this place sooner? How long had she been coming here? She was married for fuck’s sake. Wasn't he too young for her? For any of these ladies? 

I pushed my book up higher so no one could see me, especially the piano player. 

“Good evening ladies. Sorry to keep you waiting but I hope it was worth it?” He said in a husky voice as he sat at the piano.

No, husky wasn’t quite right. More like smooth. No, maybe velvety. Not that either. Buttery. That’s it. His voice felt like how you feel when you smell warm butter on yeast rolls. He made me feel warm and cozy and safe. Damit. I did not want to be pining for this man the way all these women were. Hell, I thought I heard a “Yes lord” somewhere in the crowd. Like I said, church ladies at their sluttiest. 

He sat down and immediately our eyes met. He had the brownest eyes I had ever seen. Like I was swimming in a sea of  . . . velvety warmth. I couldn’t tear my gaze away. 

Slowly, a mischievous grin spread across his face as he stretched his fingers over the keys. Then he winked at me. I didn’t have a good feeling about this. 

“So I’m going to do something a bit different than usual. Don't worry, I promise to please.” He began playing a few chords to a nondescript melody. 

More woos, more Yes Lord. The man could have said he was going to murder someone and they’d scream, “Kill me please.” He could do anything to these women and they wouldn’t care. 

“Sweetie, you’re missing the show,” my mom whispered. 

I decided I wasn’t. I didn’t want to see all these women in heat vying for this man’s attention. And contrary to what people believe about church people, they weren’t the most wholesome. Last thing I wanted to do was watch my mother and her generation throw granny panties at this man. Nope, I’d stay out of it. 

“Instead of serenading you solo, how about I start us off with a duet.” The crowd went wild. 

I completely ignored this. If I just focused on the words in front of me, I could pretend none of this was happening. It was already bad enough that I was here, now I had to hear one of these ladies caw next to this sexy—I mean slick guy. Psh. 

“Pick me,” one lady to my right called out. I snuck a glance and saw her wearing a green, shimmer wrap dress with shimmer pumps and bright red lipstick. She looked like a sparkly female version of the Jolly Green Giant. 

“Over here. I can sing,” another lady called, but it was too dark for me to see who. But I could hear the banging of her bracelets and could guess she had on a bohemian, maxi dress with high heeled sandals. So maybe every woman in here wasn’t dressed in glimmer but still, I didn’t have to look to know she was trying too hard. 

“Pick her,” I heard my mother call from beside me and immediately slapped my book closed in my lap. 

“Mom!” I hissed. 

“Oh it’ll be fun.” My mother slipped my book from my hands, pulling me forward out of my seat. 

“What an excellent idea,” Mr. Piano Man chimed in. Seriously?! He tried to feign innocence but I could see the gleam in his eyes, he was loving every minute of this. He was always going to pick me, no matter what. 

Then it dawned on me. My mom had done this. That’s why she so desperately wanted to bring me here. Practically forced me to change and rushed me out of the door. This was a set up. 

“Mom, did you--”

Suddenly two men in all black came from out of nowhere and gestured for me to follow them on stage. I begrudgingly let one of the men take my hand and walk me over to the velvet steps leading to the stage of Mr. Smooth Operator. 

Dear god, don't let me trip. 

I could practically feel the jealous stares at the back of my head. It was at this moment I wished I had taken my mother up on doing my makeup tonight. I had on no foundation, concealer, eyeshadow or even lipstick. All I was wearing was my tired face and some flavorless, colorless chapstick. And I didn’t even bother to slick down my edges or touch up my bun. I simply came straight home from work and got in the bed. 

Thank god Mom made me change into this dress. It was simple with straight lines in the shape, no fancy cuts or designs. A square collar and short sleeves. But it was a little snug around my hips and breasts, so at least those parts of my body got shown off. I didn’t look too stiff. But my tight, albeit puffy, bun was askew and my thick, black framed glasses probably had smudges on the lenses. Seriously, could my life get any worse? 

“So what’s your name?” Mr. He-Knows-What-He’s-Doing asked as soon as I was delivered. A corrigible smile on his face, hands still playing some nondescript melody. Then, for the briefest of moments, his eyes darted up and down my body, before returning back to my face. 

Did he just check me out? Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. 

“Your name?” He jarred me from my thoughts. 

“Oh, uh, Charmaine.” 

“Charmaine, that’s a lovely name. As you and the other ladies know, I am your host, entertainer, man of dreams for the evening, Jacques. I’ll play to your heart’s desire and any other desires you’ll have of me.” He waggled his eyebrows towards the end. 

I rolled my eyes but sat down anyway. 

“You know what you’re doing?” I put my hand over the mic. 

“Whatever do you mean?” He switched his playing from melodious to jovial, like show tunes. 

“Don’t play dumb!” I hissed quietly. 

He swiveled his body around, facing towards me, giving me his undivided attention. All without losing his fingers on the keys. Although, the song became nondescript again, less melodious. 

I was caught in a trance. His stare was intense yet I couldn’t look away. There was this raw energy surrounding us, I was getting sucked in. His presence just swarmed all around me and I was lost in him. 

Everything about him was intoxicating. His smooth, butter brown skin, his clean edges, smooth beard and dear Lord, what was that scent? He smelled like pure man, fresh soap and crisp mountain musk. If I could purr, I would. 

“So what’ll be?” He broke through his own spell. 

Damn. He was addicting.

“What will what be?” Then stupidly figured it out. “Oh, I don’t know any songs,” I answered him. And technically that was true. All the songs that kept popping up in my head were Disney songs. I knew I was too old to still like stuff that but they were all really good. Plus, Disney songs were the only ones I could sing without my voice cracking and they were clearly written in a key where anyone could sing them and not sound bad. 

But I didn’t want to sing them in front of this crowd. All these women were old enough to be my mother. Hell, some were old enough to be my grandmother. It would be embarrassing. 

As if sensing my angst, he laid one hand on mine while the other still played. 

“Just pick whatever song you like, I’m sure I know it. And if not, we can make it up as we go. You lead, I’ll follow.” Then he lifted our conjoined hands and placed a soft kiss on the inside of my palm. Chills ran up and down my spine.

Somehow this thrilled and calmed me. I no longer care what the audience would think. I just wanted to sing and be next to this man. For the first time in my life, I felt a connection with the opposite sex. 

“Do you know “A Whole New World?”  

At first I thought he’d laugh at me. Not publicly, but he’d give a little chuckle to himself. Or worse, he’d tell me to get off his stage, but I knew that was just my insecurities running wild. Instead, he started playing the opening chords to the song. 

“Why yes I do know it. I know it well. Excellent choice.” He smiled at me, the purest smile I’ve ever seen. I could have swooned. Now I knew why these women liked him. He was genuine. There was nothing fake or phony about this man. Except how he got me on this stage. I’d have to talk to my mother about that later. 

“Well ladies, my lovely guest has decided to take you on a magic carpet ride. Let’s give her a round of encouragement with applause. Come on ladies.” 

The crowd begrudgingly clapped but they weren’t feeling it. I chose to think it was the song but I could have picked Luther Vandross and they still would’ve given me the stink eye. They were just jealous I was up here and they weren’t. 

Well if I was going to be stuck up here, I was going to make the most of it. 

Jacques began playing the beginning chords to “A Whole New Whole” and I hummed along. I was going to knock the socks off this man. I wouldn’t let him show me up. This was my song and damit I’d sing it. 

He came in with the opening lyrics and I had to catch myself. I could tell from the sound of his voice he could sing, but the melodic sounds coming from his mouth were like honey to my ears, no, my soul. My stomach was currently a rhythmic gymnast while I had to clamp my legs shut to keep my nether regions from quivering. 

“Tell me princess.” He nudged his shoulder with mine and scooted closer to me. “Now when did you last let your heart decide?”

Somehow without losing the rhythm, he managed to slip a rose into my hands. And it was fresh. Still had that perfume aroma to it. I breathed it in, closing my eyes and getting lost in his voice. 

“I can open your eyes,” I heard him sing and followed suit, springing my lids apart and coming face to face with Jaques. It seemed we were even closer than we were before. “Take you wonder by wonder.”

All I could think was what wonders could he take me on. And there went my stomach again. Like I had a gold medal gymnast living inside me. I gave up on trying to control my loins by this point. 

He had finally made it to the chorus and I took a deep breath in anticipation for my part coming up. I sniffed the rose again for strength and let the flowery scent calm my nerves. Another deep breath and  . . .

“A whole new world!” I came out a little strong but I decided to stick with it. The words were pouring out of me, washing away everything around me, until it was just me and Jaques. Him staring into my eyes and me into his. 

He joined me in the chorus again. And we moved through the rest of the song. 

“I’ll chase them anywhere, with time to spare, let me share this whole new world with you,” we sang together, just inches apart from one another. 

I could smell clean mint on his breath and I hoped he couldn’t smell the lack of mint on mine. I barely had time to change when I got off work, let alone pop a Tic Tac. He was so alluring, I just wanted to swim in him forever. 

“A whole new world,” he serenaded me. 

“A whole new world,” I copied back. 

“That’s where we’ll be.”

“That’s where we’ll be.” 

“A thrilling chase . . .”

“A wondrous place . . .”

“For you and me,” we ended the song together. 

We were closer than ever, our bodies practically melding into one. He was still playing out the song but his pinky had managed to find its way to my hand. He was leaner over and I felt myself lean forward, until our lips touched and we kissed. 

For a moment I lost in the kiss. His lips were so warm, so smooth, and he tasted like cherries. It was sweet and yet somehow heated. It was like a slow burn. A burn I wanted to consume me. Then I remembered where I was and immediately pulled away from him. 

“Wait.” He reached for me, but I was already leaping up from the bench and running off the stage. 

“Time to go Mom,” I called over my shoulder, leaving the piano bar.