Cantina

Nyla was working furiously behind the bar. Happy hour was in full swing. The Cantina was packed with dockworkers, longshoremen and tugboat crews. There were even a handful of bikers. There weren’t a lot of girls in the bar. The Chinaman had created some of his specialty, Mexican egg rolls and fried won ton instead […]

Slick Steve rolled south on Avalon, the center of the Wilmington corridor. It was a town that could have been taken for a small city south of the border. It was a mass of Mexican signage and people. He wondered what the hell had hit him. He was confused. He had grown up in a

It was late afternoon in the Cantina. A quartet of flies circled above some dirty lunch dishes on one of the tables. The slow tempo affected the few customers and the staff behind the bar. Slick Steve glared at the few customers that remained, hoping to hasten their departure by some street level ESP he

Jimbo smiled at Slick Steve like a hungry crocodile. Slick Steve was tall and rangy. His size usually was intimidation enough for most people, but Jimbo wasn’t most people. Jimbo was not only big; years of hard labor at the docks had made him as dangerous as a crazed bull. The only hint that he

Mandy was gently grinding her hips against Nyla’s body while the two stood behind the dark, musty bar, when they heard voices outside. Both blushed as they broke eye contact and returned to their duties. Marko came in the door sighing. “The last one’s in a cab and his bike is locked in the garage.

Yeah, Nyla thought, it?s nice when he?s around.?She was supposed to meet Bandit later that evening. ?Hey hon?, could I get a beer?? asked Jimbo, a mountain of a man who’d been sitting in front of Nyla unnoticed. ?Oh Jimbo, I?m so sorry. I was daydreaming.?What?ll you have?? ?Dos Equis, no lime, thanks.? ?Coming right

????????The Chinaman walked through the swinging doors of the kitchen, surveying the crowd. ?The calm hum of conversation meant that he could take a break. ?He sauntered over to the end of the bar. ?By the time he got there, Nyla had poured him a mug of hot water for his green tea. ?????????The pace,

By NuttBoy ????????Two days passed. The hubbub of the last few nights had died down. ?The normal routine seemed to settle in as Nyla scanned the incoming evening crowd. None of the few bikers that were there were wearing colors. ?The longshoremen had had their fill and left to return to the unhappy marriages and

Mandy absently brushed a lock of her auburn hair from her face as she rapidly poured four mugs of beer. It was happy hour and the place was packed like coins in a roll. ?Looking out over the crowd in Bandit?s Cantina, she shook her head. The crowd of men started coming in just after

Los Angeles Detective Joe Hernandez clicked the pen, closed the notepad and put it back in his coat pocket. When Marko eased close to the officer to deliver a drink, the detective shot out his left arm faster than Marko could blink. The Joe grabbed Marko?s collar and began to twist, pulling Marko towards him.

Bandit marched through the massive oak doors packin’ two cases of Jack Black into the near-empty Cantina. It was shift change and Tina was getting ready to leave. Two other waitresses were arriving. “Attention on deck!” Bandit shouted in mock military fashion. He was greeted with half-hearted salutes and boos. But a quiet countenence fell

Mad Marko, security, looked around Bandit’s Cantina. Most of the patrons had wandered out to their bikes, fired ’em up and peeled out. This was the second time in a week that the place had been shot at, and it was taking it’s toll on business. The place was once the most popular biker bar

Jimbo pushed his drink away, visibly shaken by the blast. He stared at Tina with direct blue eyes. “I’m not taking another chance like that. I’m not coming in here again. Come with me Tina.” Tina looked at Jimbo with longing eyes. He had every right to want her. He’d been coming into the Cantina