The Romantics

11/19/2024

San Francisco's The Tenderloin

Once deeply invested without an office job getting in the way, characters persist in your thoughts, accompanying you everywhere and gently prodding you. Sometimes, their antics make you laugh. These characters have been a part of my life for as long as I can recall, remaining the same; Zeno Eliot, the artist famed for his romantic adventures more than his canvas artwork, will always be 21. I had never progressed with the story beyond Abel's Thanksgiving party in Chapter 9 until recently.

Now, in Chapter 11 where I paused at 2 o'clock in the morning, intriguing new fictional characters emerge. These characters include Ahab, who is the spitting image of his brother Abel and seeks revenge against him. Abel and Ahab aren't twins but separated in age by two years, a peculiar detail crafted solely as a motive for murder.

Then there's Precious May, a Tenderloin gap-tooth prostitute with big blonde hair. She is introduced during a strip poker game in Ahab's dilapidated SRO on Turk Street. She becomes entangled in Ahab's scheme to rob Abel, or at least, that's Ahab's wicked plan...

AHAB

Hearing a banging at the door, Ahab quickly stood up, rearranged his pants and opened the door. It was Terry Bono, carrying a bag of whiskey and accompanied by a gap-tooth woman with big blonde hair he had previously seen on the street as a prostitute. He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to invite them in or send them away. Despite his initial reluctance, the sight of the much-needed supplies in Terry's arms swayed his decision. With a resigned sigh, he stepped aside to let them enter, grateful for the temporary relief they brought.

"What's your name again?" Ahab asked the woman who settled on the edge of the bed near Terry, as he pulled up a chair.

"Precious May," she replied with a smoky voice.

"Ahab Erikson," he introduced himself, extending a hand that she grasped warmly, "Nice to meet you, Ahab."

"Let's get this party started!" Terry said, pulling out two bottles of whiskey. Meanwhile, Ahab picked up three glasses, rinsed them, and then handed them over, one to Terry, the other, Precious.

"Here's to new friendships and unforgettable nights," Ahab said with a grin, raising his glass. "May this evening bring us much laughter and stories worth remembering."

"Hear, hear!" Terry hooted.

"Cheers!" Precious chimed in.

"Let's play a few rounds of poker," Terry proposed, pulling out a deck of cards. "I've got skills that could break the bank."

"Strip poker?" Precious suggested with a sly smile.

Ahab chuckled. "Engage in a game of strip poker, and pray, Precious May, you have the most at stake."

“What do you mean?”

"Your charm and attire, naturally," Ahab replied...

To the delight of the men after the first round, Precious lost the first round and removed one item of clothing, her jacket.