Observations from the Bar
Chapter Two - Pavel Chekov
Nancy watched Pavel sit down at the bar, he always chose the middle seat in the hopes that some young and willing woman would sit next to him and he could woo her with his witticisms. He fancied himself a story teller and would often ask Nancy if he could use her stories as his own. She never denied him, the poor lad needed all the help he could get. Pouring him a shot of Whiskey Nancy watched as he took a sip, wincing slightly at the burning sensation he was obviously being subjected to. It was only recently that he had begun to drink Whiskey, before that Nancy had compassionately served him non-alcoholic beverages until he came of age.
She knew that, if he allowed himself he would much prefer a fruit based drink rather than the harder liquor he always ordered. But she'd come to understand that Pavel Chekov's actions and behaviour were at times dictated by his aspirations to appear older and wiser. She had offered him a Cardassian Sunrise once, never again!
"How are we today Pavel?" Nancy asked as she wiped down the bar.
"Wery good thank you Ms Englbrecht."
"I've told you before Pavel, call me Nancy." Pavel blushed in response, he always had been nervous in her presence. Chekov was not a man governed by structure, not in his private life at least. He would stay for one hour and twenty minutes and would drink anywhere between two and five drinks depending on whether or not there was anybody present he wanted to impress.
Nancy thought back to the time he had had the good fortune of being flanked at the bar by two beautiful Ensigns. A blonde and brunette, how formulaic. She had sat back and watched as he drank shot after shot, regaling the women with the provenance of the Whiskey he was drinking. It was Russian of course. Finally, her prevailing moral obligation kicked in and she had had to discreetly remove him from the bar when the women weren't paying attention and walk him back to his quarters before he really did lose the use of his faculties. She had of course ensured his reputation and pride remained intact, a point that he was eternally grateful for.
"Tell me a story Nancy." Pavel asked.
"You need some new material Pavel?" Nancy glibly replied. He looked sheepish and shook his shoulders in apparent defeat.
"Please?" As always, Nancy rested her forearms on the bar and leant in.
"Lucy, during her Nurse's training at a hospital just outside San Francisco, had little money for meals, so she often resorted to the food provided at the hospital refectory, even though she had a great dislike for its rather bland taste. Lucyoften took her breaks in the kitchen, and sometimes kindly visitors would give her some of the treats they had brought for patients who had not wanted to eat them. On one particular evening an English woman, from the East End of London, brought a homemade pie to the kitchen and said to Lucy, 'Would you 'eat this up, love?'" Pavel laughed at Nancy's Cockney accent. "Lucy and her student friend devoured every last delicious crumb. Soon their benefactor returned, however, and asked, 'Is me 'usband's pie 'ot yet, dearie?'" Nancy waited for Pavel's reaction,
"I did not understand the story Nancy, I am sorry." Nancy pulled a face.
"No you're right Pavel, that was probably not the right story for you. Let me work on it for next time."
"Thank you Nancy."
"You know Pavel, I hope you don't mind me giving you some unsolicited advice but you don't need a little silly story to impress whomever you're trying to impress. You're a very smart, charming and attractive young man. Take it from me, a woman doesn't need theatrics, she needs honesty, love and humour." Pavel blushed slightly but smiled.
"Bolshoe spasibo Nancy."
"Pozhaluysta."
Sorry this one is so short, I found this one harder to write than I first imagined! Slightly heartbreaking. LLAP ;-) XOXO