Kelly’s Bio:

Kelly Thompson has been writing non-fiction for over 20 years, working as a reporter, news editor, commercial copywriter, and in government publications. She recently decided to try her hand at fiction; this is her first writing contest and she is honored to have made it to the Top 10. Whether reading or writing, she looks for a story with sharp characters, smart dialogue, and a good twist.  Her fiction has appeared in River Life, and is currently looking for other publications to grace. Her recent writing projects include a nearly completed screenplay and a novel that is patiently awaiting edits. In her non-writing hours, she stays busy doing a weekly radio show, reading, camping, shooting pool, and spending time with family and friends.

Meet Me at Dorsky’s

By Kelly Thompson

She was all wrong for David. His sisters knew it as soon as they walked in. Easily 20 years his senior, her clothes were too tight, her makeup too heavy, her hair too big. The fact that they were meeting at Dorsky’s meant something was up, and Jenny and Beth thought that “something” couldn’t be good.

Big things had been happening for the Jaegers at Dorsky's for 27 years. Their father, Everett, had proposed to their mother, Laura, in the back booth in the corner. Laura had announced the pregnancies of their three children there over lunch, breakfast, and supper, respectively. Promotions, birthdays, graduations, Dorsky's had hosted them all. Though they sometimes met there simply to eat, when a Jaeger called a family meeting at Dorsky's, as David had done, there was a reason.

The woman’s name was Ray and according to their younger brother, she was the love of his life. Ray told them the two had met at a bar in the District (“I was watching his ass while he was dancing,” she confided with a coarse laugh), spent the night together, and over the last six weeks had come to realize they were perfect for each other.

In the 15 minutes they had been sitting at the round table by the window, Jenny and Beth learned that Ray thought David’s vegetarian eating habits were “weird,” his sense of humor “too clean,” and his preference for new wave music “just damn annoying.” Yeah, the sisters thought, perfect for each other.

But it wasn’t until Ray punched her brother that Beth spoke up. By that time, Ray was on her third cigarette, the first deep drag she’d taken on it turning a tickling cough into a braying hack.

“Maybe you should lay off the smokes,” David said casually, patting the woman’s back.

She shrugged off his hand irritably. “Don't tell me what to do.”

“He wasn’t,” Beth commented.

“The hell he wasn’t,” Ray returned. “I hate when a man tells me what to do.”

Another drag set off a new wave of coughing. Ray threw a sharp punch to David’s shoulder, followed by a “Move, damn it!” after which she squeezed behind his chair and barked her way to the restroom in the back hallway. Jenny and Beth watched her go before turning their attention to their little brother.

“Is this a joke? You can’t seriously want to be with...that?” Jenny asked.

“I love Ray,” David said simply.

“Good God, why?” Beth threw up her hands in frustration.

“What’s wrong with her?” he countered.

“She’s too damn old for you, for one thing. And you have nothing in common,” Jenny began.

“And she just hit you in a restaurant full of people. What’s up with that?” Beth finished.

“Look, we want you to be happy, we do. But she’s just not the right one.”

David smiled. “And who do you think is the right one for me?”

Jenny thought for a moment. “Somebody closer to your own age. Who you didn’t meet in a bar.”

“Who likes the same things you do. And shows you some respect,” Beth added.

“That’s it?” David asked. The two women nodded. “And if I were with somebody like that, no matter who they were, you’d be happy for me?”

“Absolutely.”

David nodded. “O.K. then.”

The conversation ended as Jenny caught sight of Ray making her way across the room. As the woman approached their table, David reached for his wallet and pulled out a crumpled wad of bills.

“Thanks, Sherry,” he said, as he handed her the money.

“Are we done then?” she asked.

“We are,” he answered, handing over her purse and jacket. “Thanks for the help.”

“No problem.” She tossed him a wink before heading for the door.

His sisters, puzzled, watched her go. A moment later, Beth finally broke the silence. “I thought her name was Ray.”

“I’m Ray,” said a deep pleasant voice behind them.

David grinned as the man pulled out a chair and joined them. He was about David’s age, with an athletic build and dark hair and eyes.

“Let's see...he’s two months younger than me, we met through my running club, he’s a chef at a vegetarian restaurant, and he thinks I’m funnier than hell. Did I miss anything?”

Too shocked to speak, Beth and Jenny just shook their heads.

“Good,” David said, as he reached for a menu. “By the way, you two are buying.”

***