This is the way I heard it.

The player sat at the end of Jillie's bar and surveyed the room.

Like Sanatra, who was a personal friend of Jillie's, and Judy Garland, who had just left

a few minutes earlier, the player was what you'd call a regular in this legendary Manhattan

gin joint.

A familiar fixture that Taurus might encounter on any given weeknight, as he worked his way

through his habitual bottle of vodka.

He was also a legendary ladies' man, and on this particular evening he had his eye

on a beautiful brunette at the far end of the bar.

Good eye, boss.

Who is she?

Eddie was a natural wingman, a big fella, who had bailed out his boss more than once.

Having seen her around, the player said, I think I'd have remembered.

I guess so, said Eddie.

Her friend's not so bad either.

Getting next to the brunette was a shapely blonde that was right up Eddie's alley.

Maybe they were a package deal.

The player pivoted slightly on his stool and waited for the brunette to look over.

It was only a matter of time.

They always looked over, because they could always sense his gaze, a warm and friendly gaze

with a hint of mischief that made him, according to one of his several wives, positively

charismatic.

...