At about nine o'clock they left for the Bomb. Half way down the stairs a cloud of cigarette smoke was sucked up at them by the cold air from the opened door. Fall was getting underway early this year. Henry escorted Rhonda to a little table and went to the bar for drinks. Lemar had been keeping half an eye on the stairs wondering if Rhonda came in on Saturday nights. The stage had a clear view of the stairs and the first thing you saw was peoples feet and legs coming down. Lemar perked up when he saw a shapely pair of fine legs in high heeled shoes descending. Sure enough it was Rhonda.

Then he spotted Henry behind her and didn't know what to make of it. Was she with her Father? Then he watched as Henry put his hand at her elbow and escorted her to a table. Lemar missed a couple of beats staring and his band mates were staring at him staring at them. He re-grouped and returned his attention to his sax, crestfallen.

As the evening wore on people drank and smoked and talked loud and danced. Henry could be counted on to dance with Rhonda two or three times over the evening. The third dance about eleven o'clock they were up front near the band riser. Lemar thought they looked stiff and not at all like the other couples who by this time were dancing with heat. When this number was done the band took a break. Lemar went to the bar for a drink, but even more to ask Mozel what the heck the story was.
"That's her husband," Mozel said. But she said it with a sorry look on her face. " It's a long story."

"Hi" Lemar turned to his right and it was Rhonda at his elbow.
"The band sounds real good tonight." It took a few seconds for Lemar to gather himself.
"Good evening Rhonda. You look very pretty tonight."
Mozel watched the exchange from the other side of the bar. Rhonda told Mozel and therefore also Lemar, that Henry was in the back playing cards. The last couple of hours of the night found Rhonda at the bar keeping Mozel company and watching Lemar.
"Ain't he pretty."
"He sure is."

And he was. He had an understated elegance. He was very lightskinned. Even lighter than Rhonda. His eyes were not blue but grey. His hair was shorn close to his head but still waved. Over six feet tall and slender, he walked with an easy stride. Yet his demeanor was relaxed and open, as though it didn't occur to him how nice looking he was.

At one thirty a.m. everyone tumbled out into the street, drunk, happy, amorous. Saturday night was over for another week. Lemar went home thinking of Rhonda; wanting to know more about her situation. Rhonda went home with Henry but thinking about Lemar. She was very happy Henry had had too much to drink to want sex. He was asleep by the time he hit the bed. Rhonda lay awake wondering what it would be like to share a bed with someone you actually loved.