I went over to the motel bar for a couple of cold ones. While I was there a couple of 20-something guys came in and ordered beers.

I noticed a couple of 20-something girls out by the pool. They looked pretty attractive. I nudged the guy next to me, one of the 20-somethings who had come in earlier and pointed to the girls by the pool. He said that one was his sister and the other was his cousin.

Ah. I asked him which one was his sister and he said it was the tall blond. The other was a shorter brunette.

He and the other fellow went out to the pool area. The bartender told me that she really needed to go and tell them they couldn't have glass beer bottles around the pool but she didn't want to leave the bar with customers present.

I told her I would go talk to them as they seemed to be decent enough kids. She handed me some plastic cups and thanked me for helping her out.

I walked out with the cups and told the kids, politely but sternly, that they needed to drain their bottles into the cups and give the empty bottles to me to carry back inside. I explained the rules and told them the bartender just didn't want to get in trouble.

They were cooperative enough and did as asked. As I was gathering up the empty bottles the blond 20-something, who I must say was quite stunning, told me that I was a very sexy bartender.

I nearly choked with laughter at that. Me, a middle aged, pot-bellied, semi-grey bearded trucker. That was the best amusement I've had in a while.

Later in the evening they all moved inside to the bar. They seemed pretty typical people of that age. I will admit that I did enjoy watching the tall blond (taller than myself actually) as she was quite a beauty. At one point she came over to talk with me. I found out in less than a minute that she was doing her best to keep the "dumb blond" myth alive and well.

The poor girl was quite, well, no M.I.T student, let us say. Her laugh was very annoying too.

She told me again that she thought I was sexy. Very flattering and all that, but coming from someone with an IQ roughly equivalent to that of your average blade of grass, less than convincing if you know what I mean.

She went on about how she thought men who smoke pipes were so much smarter than others and that she always thought she would marry a man who smoked a pipe.

Well, I listened to her drivel for a while, smiling at the appropriate parts, and making an inane comment here and there. I finally caught her brother's eye and signaled him over and suggested to him that perhaps his sister had imbibed a tad too much and needed to be led to her room.

The fellow actually seemed grateful that I wasn't willing to take advantage of his sister (something I suspect he has seen more than once) and shook my hand as he towed her out of the bar.

After they left the bartender plopped a beer down in front of me and said it was on her. I thanked her and she said "You're an actual, real life gentleman, aren't you?"

I replied that yes, I do try to be.

She said "You could have had that if you wanted, you know".

"Yes", I replied, "I know that. She's just a kid, I could be her father."

She looked at me for a few seconds and said "I think I love you".

"Don't you start!" said I.

We both laughed.

I relit my pipe and went back to minding my own business, which is my favorite pastime.