The Girlfriends

Dedra, Goddess and I were standing on Shirley’s sad little holy dock when Shirley made an epiphany and materialized out of thin air. This is a rare and religious experience because while Shirley has a house around the corner from mine she is rarely seen there. That’s because she runs Tybee Island, United Way, most of Chatham County and is now expanding into Effingham County, Georgia.

The four of us stood there talking and laughing surrounded by brown marsh grass, a waning tide, brilliant blue sky and a bright yellow sun. I wore running shorts with a tee shirt and had no shoes on my feet. Dedra and Shirley were dressed as though they were preparing to go to Iceland. Goddess of course was wearing her fur coat.

Anyway Shirley gave us a message from on high that “The Girlfriends” were singing at Doc’s Bar and we should come. Then Shirley disappeared into thin air and was gone as suddenly as she had appeared.

If Shirley tells you to do something you’re pretty much doomed that it’s going to happen because she runs most everything anyway.

Doc’s is Tybee’s oldest bar. Sitting in the middle of Tybrisa Street, which used to be 16th Street and is preceded by 15th Street and followed by 17th Street, but for some reason Shirley decided it should be named Tybrisa.

And so it came to pass.

Doc’s is a dump with a bumper pool table and a bar. So it is one of the most popular places on the island. There are many famous stories about Doc’s but my favorite was the last time that a Hurricane was blowing towards Tybee. The island was evacuated but Doc’s decided it was the perfect time for a party…a hurricane party. So a bunch gathered and nailed the door shut from the inside. Then they raided the bar and got collectively wasted.

Shirley must have been a part of the hurricane party and decided that she really didn’t want a hurricane to come to Tybee so at the last moment it changed course and slammed into Charleston, South Carolina.

So last night Dedra and I strolled down 16 …er…I mean Tybrisa Street (Now I have to say three Hail Shirley’s) into a very packed Doc’s. We grabbed air space next to the bumper pool table.

The Girlfriends is a singing group comprised of Sandy (rumored to be the sister of Shirley though surely she is illegitimate), Susan and Jamie. Barri runs the sound system (Barri and I have lived together twice but that’s another story). Wearing pink shirts, black everything else with bobby socks and saddle oxfords, they sing songs from the 1940s into the 1960’s meaning that Sandy, Susan and Jamie haven’t learned anything since that time period.

Nevertheless they are quite entertaining. At some point Shirley made another epiphany and materialized on the dance floor. How could I not take advantage of this opportunity? Having never danced with a Deity I leaped onto the floor, grabbed her by the hand and said, “Keep your back straight and don’t let go.” And we whirled and twirled around smiling and laughing.

As soon as the dance was over though Shirley returned to heaven or wherever it is she spends most of her time.

The Girlfriends continued to bring the house down. People were smiling and laughing and clapping.

And I leaned against Dedra and thought to myself. “Another Saturday night” but …for the moment …I have somebody. It was a sweet feeling as though I had run in from crazed business and a driven life to have someone reach in and fix my windblown hair.

Then it was over. Shirley was gone so there was no reason to hang around anymore. When she left the energy was sucked out of “The Girlfriends” and Sandy, Shirley’s illegitimate sister, could no longer sing.

So Dee and I left. Through I thought I heard them nailing the door shut…from the inside.