Clans

His iron gaze snared her attention. It blazed out from a sixty-grit face swaddled in a wild full beard in need of trimming and thick shoulder-length brown hair in need of brushing. In old jeans and a plain cotton shirt, he stood out among the regimented castes of nerds and neophytes like he had been dropped by a bird into a well-tended garden, a hardy weed among delicate prize-winning blooms. His solid stoic six-foot frame lounged back against the bar in the frantic tavern with his hard gaze fixed upon Violet.

Violet seemed another weed in this urban garden. A well-tanned five-foot-ten of muscular curves, she possessed an angular face framed with short no-nonsense brown hair. This athletic form was clothed in dark blue slacks and a lighter blue short-sleeve button-up shirt. It was a suitable outfit for an elementary teacher in her late twenties.

Not wanting to encourage a total stranger, Violet pried her eyes away back to the three she shared a table with. To one side sat Debra, ten years older. On her other side sat Charles, several decades older. Across from her sat Burgandy, several years younger. They were all leaning in across drinks and platters of appetizers so they could hear and be heard in the boisterous room.

Debra raised her glass. "To long summer months without rugrats underfoot."

Charles snatched up his glass and added to the toast with a distinct British accent. "Without delinquent adolescent brainless brats." They clinked and downed.

Violet frowned. "If you two hate children so much, why are you teachers?"

Debra laughed. "I don't hate them."

"Speak for yourself, Debra."

"Me and Charles are just glad to be rid of them for a while."

Charles focused on Violet. "I don't think Violet is. I think she honestly likes the little buggers."

Burgandy raised her glass. "To Mexico!"

Violet joined her. "That I can drink to." They clinked and downed.

"Where in Mexico?" Debra asked.

"Playa del Carmen. On the Mayan Riviera. An all-inclusive week of sun, surf, sand, food, and booze." Burgandy leaned across the table to Violet. "I'm coming back with well-tanned tits."

"You're not," Debra said.

Burgandy nodded as she undid the top three buttons of her blouse. She pulled it open and pulled down on her bra to expose the tops of her breasts. "See how white these babies are?" Since she faced Violet, Charles had to lean over for a clear view. "When next you see them, they will be tanner than Violet. All of them."

"You can tan your breasts in any tanning booth," Charles said with disdain.

Burgandy looked at him. "I'll take a selfie on the beach."

Charles continued to scoff. "Photographs can be doctored."

Violet laughed. "I think Charles is angling for a showing when you get back."

Burgandy leaned back pulling her bra up and buttoning her blouse. "I might. Just to prove it." Charles motioned for their waitress.

Debra laughed. "I think Charles wants to get Burgandy drunk enough she'll give a showing tonight."

"I just want to keep the party going," Charles offered in defense. "The last day of school is the best day of the year." The waitress arrived and Charles ordered another round. "Before and after pictures," he continued once the waitress left. "That's what you need, Burgie."

"And Charles would love to take them," Debra said.

"I'll take them," Violet volunteered.

"Why don't you come with me?" Burgandy asked. "We'll take pictures of each other's tits."

"I'd just be a drag."

"What are you going to do?" Debra asked. "Mope over Carl all summer?"

"I'll be too busy to mope. I'm tutoring summer school."