Annapolis at the Sly Fox

The following is a true story, well true from my perspective! The location is real but some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent and not so innocent! A high school friend of mine, James Orbach, once wrote in my year book: "Whenever you're around things seem to happen." Well James, I think things are always happening and this is an account of one night when I sat back a played spectator......

Nestled just off historic Church Circle on the corner of Franklin St where patterned brick is undertoe everywhere a small patio party of two hundred strangers gather for spirits and tunes. (M) is the gatekeeper or "bouncer" who can judge body language like a sea captain can read the waves. He stands in the way of couples heading down Franklin St as he smiles and says welcome with a hand gestering to the patio. This slight gesture makes potential patrons feel like (M) has been waiting all evening for them to show up to this exclusive event. Wonder how many people he has detoured from their ultimate destinations?


The atmosphere is like a siren tempting all to come in be young and carefree for just now. Under a Willow Oak cell phones softly light up like candles flickering on and off from the cast iron pub tables and chairs. There is a married pretty young blonde whose back side impressively jiggles under her halter white flowered sundress to her favored tunes performed by live musician Timmie Metz. The blonde is shadowed by a friend who watches everyone and moves with authority in her all to thin frame. Some may look at her and want to care for her, take her in but she looks like she's been alone for so long she wouldn't trust the hand feeding her.
Men everywhere are enjoying the sights and smells of skin that's been covered until this warm night. The Chespeake sends occasional breezes through the patio that makes the oak shimmer to the tunes pouring out from the corner where Timmie is playing an old beatle's tune. The men instinctively lean in to the freshly shampooed crowns to drown themselves in the seduction of scents.

A young (Sprite) girl all of 24 skips up to Timmie and makes a request dedicated to "(Susan's)beautiful daughter". As Timmy belts out the dedication she blushes, giggling and skipping to the back of the patio. Twenty seconds later she is back up front with ladies in tow all of them swaying and bouncing to Timmy's minstrels. Timmie's smiling, (M)'s arms that were crossed while monitoring from the street come undone as he nods approval then he eyes a group of men approaching from Church Circle and knows they will be easily led into a small area of bouncing beauties to enjoy a brew or two.

Over by the bar stands a fit petite brunette who clearly has eyes for one in her company. She glances quickly at others yet burns her long gaze into the face of one who is oblivious. She glances down, her lashes hiding what her frown reveals. She doesn't know that if she only smiled that she would illuminate herself like a lighthouse in a sea of darkness drawing near the one she desires.
Six feet away "Camera Cale" makes his rounds snapping candids of potential conquests. He is very good at flattering his prey and takes his time to inventory the crowd moving from grouping to grouping. He never stays in one place for more than seven minutes. How would he responds to being equally pursued?
Young sprite is sitting across from(Susan)in the back and she has a handsome young man whose sun kissed short brown hair frames his piercing green eyes. He fondly strokes the bare back of the sprite with his fingertips. She is leaning into him slightly laughing ducking her flirty short hair into his chest then throwing it back laughing exposing her smooth neck. He is savoring her sounds and movements. She keeps her left arm between them while she's facing(Susan). Her eyes are as pretty as any forest fawn. She is a living Maxfield Parrish muse. Her admirer squares his frame open to her. She laughs dipping her head to the music then into his chest he responds by leaning into her; his fingers exploring every inch of her back which her deep rose halter shirt dress leaves open.(Susan) jumps up in response to Timmie begining "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5 and grabs the hands of her companions leading them up front. They dance in a circle, fairies on a mid-summer night without reservation.

The (Sprite) makes her way to my table and asks to sit for awhile. I lean in and say, "You're Susan's daughter!" She asks how I know her mom and I say I don't. She frowns and asks how I knew that she was Susan's daughter. I explain I just listen and watch and she gave herself away with her giggle at the dedication. She laughs and rolls her eyes. She explains her name is (Ness) and she adores her mom who at fifty is full of passion and joy. (Susan) has Asian characteristics and is a beautiful woman who is confident and regal, yet fun and reminds me so much of Tia Carrere from Wayne's World. She is truly blessed to have the admiration of her daughter (Ness). I tell (Ness) that her boyfriend seems really into her. She asks me to repeat what I said and I do adding that he seems to enjoy touching her back; she pulls back and searches my eyes. Her pretty mouth goes grim. She remains silent. She lowers her chin quietly confessing to me that he is not her boyfriend but her best friend's boyfriend. "Oh," I sip my Zinfadel before adding,"well, he would like to be. Trust me he can't keep his hands or eyes off of you." Just then my guy returns to the table completely blown away that the very subject which I was secretly observing was sitting with me. (Ness)tells me as she leaves that she hopes she will be half of what her mother is at fifty and have her own boyfriend by then.

With (Ness) returning to the back, my man asks how I got her to our little table and I smile saying I didn't. He's seen this before with me. He knows "as we seek so shall we find" so he just grins shaking his head at how wherever I am these things just happen. Timmie puts out a bone-chilling rendition of Cold Play's "Fix You" and wins applause. Ness is still chatting with her admirer but with more distance between them. They are lost to the rest of us. Timmie sings Stand By Me as his last call to a disappointed crowd. Of course as soon as the music stops the chatter rises.

We are treated with a new visitor to our table-Timmie! We learn he is a professional musician, husband to a beautiful and intelligent wife and father to an "adorable and demanding" seventeen month old daughter. He performs five nights a week and cares for his daughter while his wife teaches. As the two musicians at my table begin their "fret talk" I glance over to see (Ness) in a jacket laughing at something her best friend's boyfriend said. The crowd begins to slowly disperse into the warm breezy Annapolis air. (Ness) gets up and heads off to the side of the patio. (Susan) has a polite smile but is looking away from Ness's admirer. He speaks up and (Susan) turns toward him with inquizitive eyes and widens her smile as she leans in from across the table to listen. As she answers she looks off perhaps for (Ness)? I pray (Ness) can keep her head about her. I hope before she gets swept away she can decide what value she places on her girlfriend's friendship? Will she question whether her admirer could ever be better for her than he is to her friend? I hope she talks with (Susan) whose completed her study and wants to defend her thesis. Reluctantly, I turn from their story. (M) sees us off at the gate. He is almost bouncing. He nods once as if to say "Yeah, I'll see you back here real soon."

Twilightmoms MD,DC, PA and VA luncheon!

Wow ladies, what a pleasure it was to meet each one of you. Can't wait to get together again. Rae you picked a great restaurant, the service and food were outstanding. We have to plan something around BD. What fun it was to read the first chapter in your presence and to have all of you drilling my reactions. Blessings to all of you!