Selma’s Farewell At The Pontoon Bar (Part 5)

Cold Feet Before The Farewell

Sparing a thought now for lunch, it was the long awaited, largely built-up farewell for Selma. However, it almost turned out to be an anticlimax when I headed downstairs to meet up with Rhett, Thao and Linh. Asking if we were heading to the farewell there was a bit of hesitation in their voices as they asked “Do you think we should” and pausing to look around. Despite our cold feet, my persistency upon noting that Selma was heading down the stairs bid us to leave for Darling Harbor, deciding to lead the pack and be the first ones there.

This I figured also happened because Linh wouldn’t have felt part of the group, like me, being unable to make that bridge between the women effectively. The walk there was a warm one as I chatted away with the three of them for most of the trip, Rhett being the only one knowing where the Pontoon Bar was. Making our way past Manny and some girl from work he was chatting with, we reached the Pontoon Bar that was basically under the Darling Harbor walking bridge or nearby.

Being the first four to arrive at the Pontoon Bar, we took a walk around the opened area which to me at the time looked intriguing and a touch upper class. There was a long bar that served drinks on the harbor and hot food which was a touch costly. Venturing off to the pool tables, I found them to be an interesting design, the Giorgio Armani of pool tables.

Taking a glance around, I also noticed that there near the pool tables was a semi stage and noticing strobe lights and such I asked Thao “Does this turn into a nightclub”. Nodding his head, Thao noted how it was a great nightclub at nights to which he’s been once before. Thinking this would be an awesome place to visit, I figured that they would close it off from the harbor so they could monitor who was paying to come in and who wasn’t.

Chips And Plans With Thao

Grabbing ourselves some hot food, because of the costly price I had to be the first to order some large chips which cost $4.50 and weren’t too bad. The other three looked as if the prices were too steep but they eventually bought themselves some burgers or what not, basically being the same price as the City Hotel. Commenting some more on how I would love to head down to the Pontoon Bar on Saturday night to check it out, Thao blurted “If you go I’ll come down with my friends and we’ll meet up”.

Thao has always looked keen to see who I am behind the image I portray at work. He looks keen to learn more, as if like Lyssa in our beginning days, to learn from me. Making me feel like he can see that charisma looming in the back of me with his always captivated alacrity, I with him feel comfortable, different to that of Linh of Rhett as honored I am.

Selma Walks Over

Seconds after our food was ordered I noticed from continually glancing around the wall that Selma was heading over with her group of friends. Being one to always wear black and looking good in what she wears, the group made their way over to where we stood in line. Grabbing my little waiting number which was attached to a little standing pole, I greeted her as she warded off and embraced my conversation. Having always felt this connection between us, I’ve always been too timid, anxious, kind or just plain slow to make that greater push for involvement.

Selma would obviously know that I held interest for her and I can see with such an open invitation to her party (making sure that Linh and the rest of them came to my request), she definitely has something for me. However, neither of us have taken that next step, fearful of asking and being rejected when we both know no such thing would have happened.

Well, I guess Selma inviting me so candidly to her farewell was that step forward but I was thinking something more on the lines of having lunch together so it would just be the both of us chatting, not a room of contention and eagle ears. Feeling in all honesty that Selma only invited Thao, Rhett and Linh in hopes that I would head along, you could see from the onset that Linh didn’t feel comfortable. We didn’t really blend too well with the rest of the crowd to which we stood alone for most of what was her farewell.

Snooker And Sunshine

Feeling a touch uncomfortable myself as Rhett, Linh, Thao and some other guy started playing snooker, I sat myself down near the area of play for a little while but then decided to occupy myself by buying a drink of orange juice. Waiting patiently for the hot chips to arrive, our order finally arrived and wanting to take a step out into the sun, I ushered the four of us to head in that direction.

Hoping that we would be able to find ourselves a seat near Selma and that group of about twelve (Mostly ladies) Rhett and I branched off, being the only ones who wanted some warm sun in these last days of winter. Linh and Thao continued playing another game of snooker as Rhett and I found ourselves some seats under sun umbrellas, sitting on beach type seats.

Lying my wallet on the little table between us along with my lot of highly salted chips, I took off my jacket and sat myself back to relax in the basking sun. Apart from the relaxing gesture of sitting down, glancing across the harbor with the sun gilding the umbrella above you, the crowning moment was when Selma walked around one of the barriers and stood in front of our lounging bodies making an effort to have a chat and make us feel welcome.

Chatting With Selma

Being closest to me and unable to make myself comfortable in the seat, my words came out wantonly, self conscious to speak up. Rhett saved me from a horrible intimidated conversation by chatting about the Friday night where we were all at the City Hotel. Explaining how he didn’t leave until it neared midnight, I heard how she fell over four times and then caught a taxi home with some guy from work but I’m sure that’s old news now.

Conversation with Selma ended after a couple of minutes due to her being called back by her friends for a picture. Relaxing for a couple more minutes with Rhett, we calmly looked at our watch and were taken back by how time had flown. “Shit, it’s 12:45 p.m.” Rhett yelled as he glanced at me astonished. Standing ourselves up after we had finished eating our chips, it was time to head back to work but Rhett decided to play one more game of pool with a friend.

Nevertheless, as Linh and Thao were urging me on to head back to work, I finished off my orange juice and without having the chance to say goodbye to Selma I left back for work. That might have seemed rude of me to which I should have had enough decency to thank her for the invitation but Linh didn’t look too comfortable staying around so following suit, we made our quick haste back to work, chatting about the plans for the Pontoon Bar on Saturday with Thao and of Linh’s big win on the pokies just before we left with Linh.

“Thao, you’re the best good luck charm man, I swear” Linh attested, explaining how he had won $55 in the pokies while Thao was sitting right next to him. Feeling he was fortunate, I just wish that Thao was standing around me when I bet $5 on a five cent machine at the start of our visit to the Pontoon Bar when we were checking it all out. Seems that I didn’t last very long to which I’m grateful I only spent five dollars.