Filed under: Alcohol, Characters, New Mexico, People Watching, Skinning, Uncategorized
I forgot to write about a particularly frightening man at the Red Elvises show.
We were eating, talking, and generally minding our own business before the show. Beki got up to get a drink and overheard a conversation between a couple guys near the door. They were big, middle aged guys. One said, “You ever skin a black bear? They are the oiliest mother fuckers.” Another answered, “I know, and once get the skin off they look like a human. Creepy.” The third returned, “And if you nick the gut they smell somethin' awful.” Beki got her beers and promptly returned.
Somehow I missed her tell this story when she returned, so my first introduction to our hero was when I noticed the hunting knife on his belt. He was leaning against a wooden post, arms crossed. He was about 6'4'' and 230. He had a well groomed beard and mustache, a flannel shirt, nice fitting jeans, and cowboy boots. The look was completed by a cowboy hat and the knife. Everyone was a little scared.
Once the show started (it was late because their van broke down (Beki's worst fear is of breaking down in the middle of New Mexico)) we headed to the dance floor, which had previously only been occupied by couple in their mid-fifties wearing Hawaiian shirts. The man had on shiny, red wing-tips. The floor filled and the band stated. Somehow The Bear Skinner caught Dave's eyes and he spent several minutes in a peeking battle with our hero. Dave would try to get a good look at him, then The Skinner would slowly turn his head and catch Dave's gaze. I'm not sure how long this lasted.
The Bear Skinner was forgotten until the intermission (which the Elvises used to hawk their goods). A drunk Beki was trying to get a drunk Ben to talk to a hot hipster girl, when suddenly we saw The Skinner make bee line to the object of Beki's affection. He avoided the dancing duo and confidently introduced himself. We all held our breath. The conversation only lasted twenty seconds and we all wondered about the outcome. He headed for the bar and we were certain he was buying her a drink, but that never panned out. In retrospect it is clear that what we saw was our hero's incredibly dignity in the face of rejection.
I only caught glances of The Bear Skinner throughout the rest of night. One thing is certain, we were all afraid and in awe. My only question is: How do they know what a skinned person looks like?
