Frank

A wee try at something atmospheric.

The air was tepid in the nightclub. The bar was surrounded by bodies, pressed together in expectation. The barmaids flitted from drink to drink, pausing at the flow of an electric fan, shuffling money from tills to hands then cocking their heads to hear how many vodka redbull the next guy wanted.

Frank stood with his back to the bar. He was the only person who commanded any breathing space. He surveyed the crowd through the green gloom.

Short dressed girls, awash with fake tan that no-one could see, wiggled on the dance floor. A nervous youth weaved his way among them, tentatively holding three drinks that he carried to his friends.

Frank smiled then looked at his watch.

Time for a smoke.

He headed downstairs past mirrored walls and painted girls who giggled as they climbed to the club. The bouncers gave him a trusting nod as he flashed his cigarette packet, explaining his temporary departure.

He stood under the awning, inhaling deeply as the tobacco and paper crackled aflame.

“Evening big chap. Got a light?”

Frank handed his lighter to a well dressed man and watched him fire up.

“Like a sauna in there tonight eh?”

“Yep.”, said Frank as he took a draw of his cigarette, staring into the distance.

When he’d had enough he flicked his stub into the gutter and went back to the throbbing darkness.

The music coursed through the crowds, swaying them, moving hips and lifting arms. Dazzling lights cast shadows everywhere and in the darkest shadow of all stood Frank, waiting.