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 up.? Nyla busied herself getting the beer from the cooler behind her.
?Have you heard from Tina?? Jimbo hollered to Nyla over the noise in the Cantina.
As Nyla walked back with Jimbo?s beer, Mandy sidled up to the waitress station at the end of the bar, next to where Jimbo sat. ?Hi ya? Jimbo. ?What?s shakin??? ?Mandy laughed familiarly as she spoke. ? ?You lookin? fer Tina?? She knew Jimbo was always looking for Tina. ?And Tina was always running around. ?Tina was the torment of many men who frequented the Cantina. ?It was just that Jimbo?s infatuation was so obvious.
Nyla glared at Mandy.?She knew what Mandy was up to. They both knew that Tina was with Slick Steve.?Nyla shook her head, trying to squelch Mandy?s penchant for tormenting the vulnerable. ?Mandy was the kind of girl who delighted in the pain of others. As Nyla was trying to signal Mandy to stop, Jimbo turned and noticed Nyla?s efforts.
?Wait a minute, Nyla. ?What do you know? ?I thought you were my friend.?
?I am your friend, Jimbo,? Nyla hesitated. ?She could have killed that damned Mandy. ?She just liked to stir the pot. ??I ??,? Nyla?s answer was interrupted by Mandy.
?Talk to Slick Steve, he knows,? Tina?s insinuating tone was not lost on Jimbo.
?That bastard,? Jimbo slammed his beer down on the bar. ??I warned that son of a bitch to keep his greasy hands off her.? ?He shook his head in disbelief.
?Cut it out,? Nyla snapped back at Mandy, silencing the gum-snapping waitress. Nyla quickly returned to Jimbo. ?Jimbo, you don?t need to lose control over this,? she spoke in a calming manner.
??But Nyla, I can?t help it. ?I?m crazy for her. ?She promised me she?d stop takin? that junk. ?She promised that if I would help her out with the rent, she?d stop takin? drugs.? ?He looked pleadingly at Nyla….
