Chapter 2 – The Racetrack – Horse Racing and Hookers
First stop on the “night of my life” was the racetrack. No I am NOT joking. Barry parks the car, says “let’s go” and promptly exits the car. Apparently, he thinks that I know the “secret plan” or that I am a pet, because he looks back at me with the “aren’t you coming” expression before heading straight for the betting counter. I debate for a minute about whether or not the parking lot of the racetrack is safer than the racetrack itself and opt to reluctantly follow Barry. I walk in and catch up to Barry as all eyes turn to look at me. Normally, bringing the room to a halt and having everyone stare at you might be a good thing, in this case it’s just super creepy. It’s not just because I am truly overdressed for the racetrack, or that I am the youngest person by decades (next to Barry) but simply because I definitely do not belong here. I look like a kindergartener in a crack den. Do you know who is at the racetrack on a Saturday night? Compulsive gamblers, degenerates and hookers. After our date was over I realized that Barry fit into the first two categories and possibly the third (I can’t be sure).
After Barry places a bet, he then proceeds to get a drink. He wants to buy me a drink but the bartender asks for my ID and I remind Barry that I am 19. A fact which will escape him many times before this date is over. He looks at me with a mix of disgust and irritation and walks over to the track to watch the race. I follow behind him, because I am too scared to be alone in this place which is one step above hell. When I catch up to him my Latin temper has finally emerged and I say, “What in the hell are we doing at the racetrack?” To which Barry replies, “watching the races, what are you stupid?”
God was rolling his eyes at me at that moment. God – “Hello! Can I make it any more obvious to you that this guy is a complete putz? Run, don’t walk to the nearest exit!”
Now, I am fully aware that when God speaks to you, you should listen but given that I had no way to get a hold of someone, no money, and am far away from home, it looked like I was stuck with Barry and all the other degenerates at the race track. After the race, in which Barry loses the money that he bet, he decides that he needs to go to the bathroom. Which leaves me standing there waiting for him and being propositioned for a different kind of “date” by at least 5 men. I finally shout, ” I am not a hooker!” and they leave me alone. We end up watching two races, Barry loses more money and buys two more drinks. Actually he tries to get me to buy him drinks but as I remind him AGAIN, I am only 19 and can’t buy him drinks. He is pissed.
So now I’ve gone from irritated and scared to panicked because Barry is angry, semi-tipsy and behind the wheel. He tells me that he has to make a stop before we head to San Francisco, so we get back into the car and he takes off again. I am sitting next to him wondering if: a) I am going to live through this experience, b) if the next stop is robbing a bank, c) if I will ever be able to wash the stench of human despair off of my cute summer dress.
tune in tomorrow for – An Orgy
