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In Nashville
The aging country music star makes his comeback every night at nine. His jokes are ethnic and he kisses nervous housewives on the cheek between numbers. They blush like virgins. Just to show how upright this fun is, he brings a real one- Daddy's little girl-into the act. He flirts and bends his face for her to kiss. What could be more innocent than that? While he sings his countless tears, he counts on theirs. Couples dance too close for strangers. If his songs are true they'll leave this place together, be good, get another chance. The married ones won't divorce. At tables outside the spotlight, folks look on in pairs, in groups, and all alone. | The hostess serves another round of bourbon. Someone wonders how the darkened room appears by day. Someone tilts toward home. Travelers feel this is the town they come from, forget who waits with radio turned low. They tell secrets they won't know tomorrow when they wake, tongues dry and raw.