The Client

Around two that afternoon I was back in Kristi's office and we managed to finish up the negotiations within an hour or so. After that we got down to the real nitty-gritty of just what they needed in terms of satellite photos, land surveys, samples, and so on. By five it was time to hang it up for the day. In a rather surprising move, she invited my to have a drink at her favorite watering hole just a block away. Since the afternoon had gone much better than the morning, I decided that maybe she wasn't quite the screaming bitch that I thought she was earlier, and wanted to see if that persona persisted after she walked out the front door of the building. "Sure," I said, "after the negotiations of this morning, I could use one!"

"Aw, come on," she said with a grin, "I wasn't that tough on you!"

We left the building, and I swear it was like she flicked a switch on the way out the door. Ms. Lawyer was turned off and Ms. Sweetheart was turned on. The difference was noticeable almost immediately and pretty incredible.

"Let's get a table," Kristi said as we entered the bar. "I feel so on display sitting at the bar."

The cocktail waitress came by and we ordered our drinks. "The munchies are on the table in back, if you'd care for some," she said as she left.

We got up and went to the rear of the bar, got a small plate and loaded up. But, not quite as much as the rather obvious drag queen with the bad hair in front of us who looked like she was eating dinner here.

"Takes all sorts," I said as we returned to our seats.

"The drag queen?" she asked. "She's in here all the time. She really needs some lessons in makeup and how to dress. There are a few other ones in here from time to time, including tonight. "She nodded toward what appeared to be a woman sitting at the bar.


"That's another drag queen?" I asked surprised.

"Oh, big-time, and very good at it too."