Knave of Swords | The Candy Dish

They’d met a week prior at The Ambrosia Club — an exclusive bar similar to Studio 54 in New York during the 1970s — where the bouncers get to choose who gets in judging by the way prospective customers are dressed and how attractive they are. Gary and Gretchen were allowed in without question as they were both attractive and well-dressed.

They sat down at the bar opposite one another. When their eyes met, it was a done deal. He bought her a drink and then sat next to her. They talked all night long except when they were slow dancing to Sinatra.

For their first date, Gary took Gretchen to a party. It wasn’t just any party, meaning not just anyone could show up. The guest list was pored over by the host and hostess and anyone who wasn’t the crème de la crème, was 86’d, i.e. crossed out.

Of course, Gary & Gretchen were in. There was never any question since they were both from wealthy, prominent families.

Gretchen had never been to a party like this before. There was a live band, none other than Gus’s Greek Gestapo. Food was catered-in from a five-star restaurant. But what really surprised Gretchen were the pills, powders, and weed in candy dishes and sheets of glass with a razor blade just waiting for someone to indulge. Gary was getting them some champagne so Gretchen decided to pop a couple of pills, just to see what they would do. She wasn’t sure what to do with the powder and the razor blade, so she waited and watched until someone else used it. She didn’t want to look stupid.

Gary came back with their champagne and noticed Gretchen’s stunning green eyes were unusually glassy. He handed her a champagne glass, and she downed it in one gulp.

“Hey, babe, ” Gary said. “Better take it easy. The party just started.”

Gretchen giggled and gazed into his eyes. “I like you a lot!”

“”I like you too, Gretchen,” Gary smiled. “A whole lot!“

They kissed.

Gary took Gretchen around and introduced her to his friends, some of whom she already knew. Whenever she could, she’d scoop up a couple pills from a candy dish. They made her feel energized and happy. Not that she was unhappy. Euphoric is a better word.

They danced a few dances, ate some caviar and grilled octopus, and drank more champagne. They were dancing to Walk Like an Egyptian, which Gretchen had requested the band play, when she suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous. She lost her balance. Gary tried to catch her, but he missed, and Gretchen fell to the dance floor.

Gary immediately picked her up and checked her pulse. Without saying goodbye, Gary donned his Pegasus Flyer Super Sandals, and soon they were soaring above the clouds at warp speed.

Gretchen started to wake up. “I think, I think, I’m gonna be sick.” And she was right!

Gary tilted her head away from him and kept her hair out of her face while she vomited. He wondered what it was landing on because there sure was a lot of it.

He found a grassy area on which to land in case Gretchen wanted to get sick again.

“I think I’m okay, Gary. Just drank too much.”

“And what else?”

“Oh, yeah.” Gretchen just remembered. “Do you know what those little pink pills were in the candy dish?”

“How many did you take?”

Gretchen shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Gary held her close and kissed her cheek. “Just rest, okay?” She was already asleep.

He gently put her down on the soft grass and lie down next to her. He put a protective arm around her and fell asleep.

In the morning when she woke up, Gary was still holding her close.

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