Fuck it. It's almost 9:00 and time is wasting. You jump in the cab and instruct the driver to take you to Hubbard Street . The cabbie makes a beeline through Old Town and the Gold Coast. The city is beautiful this time of year. You marvel at the Brownstone buildings and all the face lifted society women walking their dogs. You marvel at the crisp September sky and the remains of summer. Why would anyone live in New York ? You thumb through a magazine in the seat next to you. It's a free glossy social rag aimed at upscale Chicagoans. You wonder if there's a write up of the place you're about to visit. You throw it aside.
As the cab nears the entrance, you look toward the window in anticipation. It looks busy. This could be a good sign. You pay the cabbie and proceed with interest. So this is the new venture from Billy Dec and Brad Young? Exposed brick, pool tables, outdoor seating. Alright, it may not be Le Passage, but it's certainly more your scene than Circus was. The servers are attractive, always a plus. As you survey the space looking for your roommate a host hands you the menu. You peruse it with feigned interest. What's a foie gras burger? You see your roommate, but he doesn't look good. In fact, he looks wet. What's going on, you wonder? "Hey," he says, stumbling towards you with his eyes only half open. "Are you drunk?" "No," he says, shaking his head yes. "How long have you been drinking?" "Since I was 21," he says. "No, I mean today." He holds five fingers. "I came at happy hour," he offers, "and everyone kept offering me drinks and then … five minutes ago … I barfed in the bathroom." You let out a sigh specific to the many times you've had to escort your roommate home after an evening of binging. "C'mon, let's sit down and eat … there's this hot waitress …" By now he is barely standing and you can barely stand him. The evening is ruined and now you have to pay for cab fare again and hope he doesn't vomit all over the apartment. You escort him towards the door as crowds begin to swell in the dining room. Rockit will have to wait another time. You hail a cab to make the reverse trip home while your roommate lies on the sidewalk much to your embarrassment. THE END |
