Charlie's

hey sat on the chromed, padded stools by the bar, away from the dance floor. The flashing neon lights behind them reflected onto her shoulder length blond hair. She was on the left. Him on the right.

Barman: "What will it be?"

Him: turning towards the girl. "What would you like?"

Her: talking straight to be barman. "Southern Comfort and lemonade, please."

Him: "Make mine a Bitter."

They sit in silence waiting for the drinks to appear. He runs his hand through his dark short hair, trying to avoid eye contact.

Both: "Thanks."

Formalities over with, (no names mentioned) they start to talk.

Him: "Come here often?"

Her: "Maybe. You?"

Him: "Once or twice."

They sip their drinks.

Him: "Do you like the music?"

Her: "I like most sorts."

Him: "Care to dance?"

Her: "Maybe latter."

He thinks she has a secretive look in her eyes. She keeps the glass in her hand, bringing it up to look through it now and again.

He looks out over the dance floor. About twenty couples are dancing under the neon lights.

Her: "I wonder which ones are which?"

He wonders too.

Him: "You should be able to tell by the way they dance."

Her: "You should. Also by the way they bonk."

He thinks that she thinks that he's wondering which she is.

She thinks that he knows what she is thinking. She doesn't care which he is.

Him: "Was that a threat or an invitation?"

She smiles.

Her: "Which of us, do you think is more afraid of finding out which the other is, than letting on which they are?"

Him: "I don't know."

Her: "I do. But I don't care."

Shortly.

Her: "Do you like me?", a trick question if ever there was one.

Him: "Yes, but surface appearances count for little in this place."

Her: "Surface appearances are all that count here. Shall we go?"

Him: "Okay.", not knowing where they're going to.

She gets up and walks to the staircase. On reaching the top she obtains a plastic token from the token machine. He follows her into one of the rooms.

They start to undress.

Watching as she undresses, he is still wondering. Eventually he is naked too.

He thinks that she knows which he is.

She thinks that he hasn't yet made up his mind about her.

She lays down on the bed. Apart from an under sheet, there are no bed covers. The bed is not meant for sleeping in.

Her: "Don't forget the condom."

He gets one from the dispenser before joining her.

They make 'love', slowly but surely, like the strangers they are. There is little passion between them, but neither seem disappointed.

Afterwards.

Him: "Enjoy that?"

Her: "Mmm. Could you tell which I am?"

Him: "Maybe. Could you?"

Her: "Maybe."

They dress.

Him: "Will you be here again?"

Her: "Maybe, maybe not. You might just not recognise me."

Him: "Maybe I wont, maybe I will."

They go down the stairs, and exit through their respective exits. Him through the male, her through the female.

She trades her body for the male one "she" legally owns. Body swapping is limited by law to certain establishments and short lengths of time. "She" always goes as a female. "Shes" kinky that way.

He trades his for the female one "he" owns. Next time, maybe "he" will come as "himself".

They exit on opposite sides of the building so as not to meet accidentally.

Charlie's Gay bar does a great trade Friday and Saturday nights. A great place for a one night stand or just to meet people, but you can never be sure which ones are which.