Tropical Itch

After grabbing some dinner and cruising Kalakaua Avenue a bit, I decided to stopy by the Marriott outside pool bar around 8:00 p.m. There was only a handful of people there, but I started talking to a guy named Tom who was having dinner and a drink a few seats away. Seems Tom was in Waikiki on business, lucky bastard.

After about one drink or so, three girls walk up and plopped down around the other corner of the rectangular bar. Tom and I give them a look, and they say hello. We weren't chatting long before one of the girls began staring at my hat.

"Does that say "Chico State?" she asked.

"Yes," I said.

"I went there," she said.

The usual alumni banter went back and forth for a while, and she told me she was never there for Pioneer Days, and she graduated in 1992. If my drunk math served me right, that would make her about 37.

Just about the time I was thinking, "hmmm," a striking blonde sat in the chair between Tom and me. She quickly said hi and introduced herself as Tammy. She was here with her father who was not in good health. She had just put him to bed and came down for a drink. Without realizing it, Tom and I gave Tammy all of the attention. The girl from Chico and her friends left without us noticing.

Before long, the bartender was made his last call as the pool bar closed on Sunday nights at 10:00 p.m.. Tom, Tammy and I all ordered our last drinks. Then Tammy mentioned something about her boyfriend who wasn't with her on this trip. Tom smirked.

About ten minutes later, another blonde walked up to the bar. She wasn't as hot as Tammy, but everything was in the right place.

"I'd like a Pina Colada," she said to the bartender as she sat down to my left.

"Sorry dear," said the bartender. "Last call was ten minutes ago."

"What?" she asked, looking at Tammy, Tom and me.

"It's Sunday night, we close at 10:00," said the bartender.

The blonde, who introduced herself as Kim, stayed seated at the bar in joined into our conversation. A few minutes later, Kim could see our drinks were reaching bottom.

"Well, who wants to go over to Tiki's next door with me?" asked Kim.

Tom looked at Tammy. Tammy looked at Kim and then at me.

"No thanks, I gotta check on my dad," said Tammy.

Tom just stared forward out to the ocean.

Taking a quick assessment of my options and the potential outcomes, I said, "Why not, I'll go over there with you, I've been meaning to check that place out."

I got up, said good-bye to Tammy and Tom and headed over to Tiki's with Kim. On the short walk over, Kim walked close to me and brushed up to me several times. I had only known her a few minutes. Was she stumbling drunk, or was she sending me signals? I couldn't tell as my head was a bit cloudy.

We easily found a table outside at Tiki's and the waitress came over with a few cocktail menus. We looked over the menus, but Kim spotted the specials menu that decorated our table.

"What that?," asked Kim, pointing to the drink specials.

"Oh, the Tropical Itch?, asked the waitress. Kim nodded.

Smiling, I said, "I think I already have that."

Ignoring me, the waitress continued, "It's a blend of vodka, rum, Grand Mariner and passion fruit juice."

"Okay, I'll have one of those," said Kim.

"Why not, me too," I said.

As Kim and I talked I could hear a Midwestern accent coming through her speech, but she insisted she was from southern California. I had my doubts, but I went with it.

The waitress came by and we ordered another round. Just after the waitress left, I felt something tugging at my shorts under the table. As I looked across, I saw Kim smiling at me.

"What are you doing?" I asked Kim.

She said, "I'm scratching your tropical itch."