Week 12: ST. Patty’s Day

It’s a funny thing that with so many folks of Irish descent living in Peril County, and most central Appalachia for that matter, St. Patty’s Day has never been much of a celebrated holiday in the region. Sure, you might find a green beer at a restaurant or two, but nothing like the festivities in larger cities. When Amber Lynn and Sky realized that they were both scheduled to have three days off in the middle of March, these two young nurses decided to make a trip to Cincinnati for a full weekend of booze, boys and binging on whatever fun they could scare up.

Skye Green grew up in Peril County and graduated from nursing school just over two years ago. A coal mining father and school teacher mother both taught her the value of hard work and a good education. She was pretty, with short brown hair and a round face. Her best friend, Amber Lynn, is a Manchester native who moved to Black Grass last year to be Skye’s roommate. The two are virtually inseparable, working together at the Black Grass Community Hospital, living in an apartment downtown over the pharmacy and traveling to any fun event they can find.

“We all set for The ‘Nati tomorrow?” Skye asked as she poured some salsa into a bowl.

Amber Lynn flipped her hair, dramatically. “Bitch, I’m always ready to get ‘Nati!” she said with a wicked grin.

Skye opened a bag of tortilla chips and plopped down on the couch. “That’s for sure. But seriously, have you packed a thing yet?”

The tall redhead reached under the sink and pulled out a bottle of vodka and a bottle of whisky, turned around while dancing a little and tossed the alcohol into an oversized purse. “Alright, I’m packed!” she laughed.

The TV flickered as it changed from one channel to the next. Skye rolled her eyes as her friend continued to dance in the kitchen.

“Well, I want to go to Molly Malone’s and Hap’s when we get there. And we can walk to O’Malley’s from our hotel, so that’s where we should probably end the night.” Skye was a planner by nature and liked to know when and where her fun was going to be taking place. Amber Lynn had other thoughts.

“So long as I end my night under some hot piece of man with tattoos and a beard, I don’t care where we’re drinking!” As a teen, Amber Lynn’s Mamaw had warned her about men with beards and tattoos, so she had always done her best to find them ever since.

The next morning, Skye and Amber Lynn loaded a couple small bags into the red Corvette parked on the side of the pharmacy. There was more activity in town than usual that morning. “Must be havin’ court today,” Sky said as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “There's more folks on Main St. than I’ve seen in a month.”

Amber Lynn fished a pair of oversized sunglasses from her purse and slid them on. She took a long drink of her coffee and looked around town. The previous night’s drinks were not agreeing with her this morning. “Well hell, we ain’t on no jury. Let’s hit it and get it!”

It was roughly three hours from Peril County to Cincinnati, traveling though Hyden, Manchester, and London on the Hal Rogers Parkway, then north on the interstate through Berea, Richmond, Lexington and Georgetown. Amber Lynn had to make a few pit stops along the way for something greasy to eat and some Goody’s powder for her head. “You gonna make it?” Skye asked her after they parked at a Richmond gas station, their third stop thus far.

“Puke and rally, bitch! Puke and rally!” Amber Lynn chanted as she twisted the lid off of a bottle of tomato juice.

The two young ladies laughed and sang old pop songs as they drove north. Amber Lynn had been raised by her Aunt after her mother passed away from an overdose. And Aunt Norma loved Madonna and The Backstreet Boys. So, Amber Lynn became a fan sort of by default. They were blasting N’Sync as they crossed the bridge into Ohio. “Our hotel is just a couple streets off of the interstate,” Skye said as she shifted lanes.

“It’s not the same place you took me when we went to the Red’s game, is it? That place was a borefest!” Darlene rolled her eyes and shifted in her seat a little.

Skye pursed her lips, curtly. “First of all, that place is super nice. It’s just a little old. And second of all, no, we’re not staying there because you made such a huge deal about it last time!”

The red corvette whipped into the semicircle just outside of the hotel. A handsome young man with green eyes and a scruffy face came and opened Darlene’s door. “Checking in, ladies?” he asked as he helped Amber Lynn out of the vehicle.

“Do you come with the room?” she asked as she took a few steps onto the concourse.

He laughed politely and walked around the car to open the door for Skye. “Don’t mind her. I can’t do nothin’ with her,” Skye sighed playfully. She handed the nice looking man her keys and a $10 bill.

Amber Lynn grabbed both bags from the rear of the car. “You workin’ all night, handsome or do you get to go out and play?” The valet smiled sheepishly and closed the trunk for her.

“No, ma’am. I’m working late. Don’t get off until around 11.”

“I bet us two could help you get off a lot sooner than that,” Darlene said, turning up one eyebrow.

Skye grabbed her friend by the elbow and directed her toward the elevator. “Would you stop! This is a nice place and my name is on the reservation.” The valet wiped his brow and the two nurses stepped onto the elevator.

After checking in and finding their room, the two kicked off their shoes and fell onto their beds. Skye was adamant that she have the bed closest to the window. “Honey, you know I don’t care where I sleep. And with any luck, I won’t be doin’ much sleepin’ anyway!” Amber Lynn said as she opened up her overnight bag. “Ready to pregame?” She pulled out a bottle of vodka and a jug of orange juice. A clinking noise came from the suitcase,.

“Did you even bring clothes?” Skye asked, astonished at the amount of alcohol in her roommates bag.

Amber Lynn reached into her bag and pulled out a green skimpy negligee with two shamrocks on the chest. “I brought this!” she said with a smile.

A few hours later, the girls found themselves at Macintosh's, a traditional Irish Pub where Guinness flowed like water and a shot of Baileys in your coffee was the perfect end to every meal. Darlene was on the dance floor, bouncing back and forth between two muscular men while Skye sat at the bar, nursing a pint. “Local or tourist?” a deep voice asked from behind the bar.

Skye looked up to see old eyes on a young face. The bartender was not classically handsome, but there was something about him that reminded her of a place she wasn’t sure she’d been to. His smile was crooked and his hair jet black. She knew right away that he was trouble. “Tourist, I guess. Just in town for the party,” she said, taking another sip of her beer.

“Yeah. I figured as much. I’d remember if you’d been in before,” he flirted. “I’m Trenton. Next one’s on me.”

“Trenton, like the town?” she asked.

“My dad had a thing about naming his kids after where they were conceived. Got a sister named Phoenix and a kid brother named Frank.”

Skye scrunched up her face. “Never heard of a town called Frank before.”

“Short for Frankfort,” he said with a wide grin.

Amber Lynn stumbled over to the bar and fell onto a stool as ungracefully as one could. “‘Sup bitch. Who’s your friend?” Amber Lynn’s ‘pregaming’ had resulted in her being much too drunk for this early in the night.

Skye helped her friend settle onto the bench. “This is Trenton. Trenton, Amber Lynn, my roommate and best friend.”

Amber Lynn’s eyes watered a little, and she leaned into Skye for a sloppy hug. “Awe, honey. I love you too!”

“I see you have two on the hook out there,” Skye said as she finished off her beer. Trenton was quick to replace it with a full one.

Darlene scoffed and shooed her friend away with a wave. “Those two? Just a warm up. No beards and a tribal arm tattoo. Pass!”

The three chitchatted for a few minutes before Amber Lynn headed back out to the dance floor. Trenton and Skye talked while he filled drink orders and watched Amber Lynn bounce from man to man. The drink in her hand sloshed ever so slightly as she danced. Her current dance partner was a skinny man with pale skin and a pencil thin mustache. He made it a point to dance behind her for some reason. A quick wave of his hand and Amber Lynn’s beer fizzed up just a bit. She brought the glass to her lips, about to take a swig.

“Hey! Asshole!” From across the room, Trenton yelled in Amber Lynn direction. He hopped the bar and bounded in her direction. Before she knew what was happening, he took the class from her hand. “I saw that, asshole! Get the hell out'a my bar!” He shoved the skinny pale man in the chest, sending him back several feet. Without a word, he turned and ran for the door.

Skye ran over to check on her friend and see what the commotion was all about. “Dude, what was that about?” Amber Lynn asked, swaying just a bit.

“He spiked your drink. Happens more than you think,” Trenton said. He walked the beer behind the bar and poured it down a small sink. Darlene and Skye followed him and sat on a pair of stools.

Amber Lynn, finally realizing what had happened shot a look of amazement at her friend. “Do you think we should go to the ER?”

Skye shrugged her shoulders. “You didn’t actually drink any of it did you?”

Amber Lynn shook her head. “No. Mr. Hero-Man saved me.” She looked at Trenton and gave him a sweet, if drunk, smile.

“Glad to be of service,” he said, looking more at Skye than Amber Lynn.

Skye pulled out her phone. “I think it’s time we called it a night. What do you say?”

“I say the night is young and so are we!” she said, tilting her head back and laughing.

Trenton shook his head. “Sorry, kid. Gotta cut you off. It’s the law.” He shot Skye a quick look and winked at her. Skye smiled back at him.

After a lot of convincing and the promise of delivery pizza, Amber Lynn climbed into the back of an Uber a few minutes later. Trenton walked the girls out to meet their ride. He and Skye stood on the sidewalk, the faint green glow of a neon sign lighting both of their faces.

“Thanks for everything you did tonight. Means a lot,” Skye said as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. He nodded and smiled back at her.

He scratched the back of his head, nervously. “You make it into the city often?”

Skye bit her lip and looked up at him. “Not lately. But I could probably be convinced.”

Trenton reached into his pocket and pulled out a drink order pad. He scribbled something on the top sheet, tore it off and handed it to Skye. “Next time you feel like being a tourist, give me a call.”

“Gawd! Can we go? If the only sausage I’m gonna get tonight is on a pizza, let’s get to it!” Amber Lynn was leaning half of her body out of the car while the driver looked back at her puzzled.

Skye looked up at the bartender and gave him one last smile. “See you around?"

“I sure hope so.”

She climbed into the back of the car, next to Darlene. “You ready?” she asked.

Darlene belched loudly and shook her head. “You know, we’re just like three blocks for The Blue Leprechaun’.”

“Maybe we can come up for Memorial Day,” Skye said as the driver pulled into traffic.