One of my professors at Hofstra had compared getting sources to open up to courting a new love interest. The first couple of dates were to get to know each other and establish trust. You wouldn’t go in for sex until at least the third date. Obviously, he’d never dated in the modern world, but I’d use the analogy to bide my time in digging the cousins for dirt. It was only my first visit to the establishment. Next time I entered the dusty darkness of Brothers Brewery, I’d be a familiar face. A regular.

Not making progress on my story didn’t mean the trip had to be a complete waste of time, though. Smaller victories were up for grabs. The consumption of a beer and a half served to lower my social inhibitions. The two women at the table continued to laugh together. With alcohol-induced courage, I jumped off my stool and joined them.

“Hi there. I couldn’t help but notice how much fun you were having, so I thought I’d come by and say hello. I’m new in town.” Please don’t brush me off. Please be friendly. I tucked a hair behind my ear with my free hand.

To my delight, the women introduced themselves and invited me to pull up a chair.

“What brings you here to Pleasant Hollow?” asked Jennifer, a pretty Asian woman with long, wavy black hair and brown eyes.

“I’m writing a story about the town,” I said, disposing of my plan to “bide my time.” When asked a question, I had this pesky habit of answering truthfully. “Do you both live here?”

Jennifer nodded. “Born and raised.”

“What do you love most about Pleasant Hollow?”

“I’m drawing a blank,” she deadpanned.

Her friend Monica’s cherubic fair cheeks brightened. “The new hot tub in our apartment.”

“Yes.” Jennifer agreed. “We couldn’t move now even if we wanted to. Not before paying it off.” She scoffed. “I bet all the fancy-schmancy apartments being built will come with Jacuzzi tubs.”

I couldn’t have asked for a better segue. “Since you mentioned it, how do you feel about The Hollows? The townspeople’s reaction weighs heavily in my story.”

Monica beamed. “We’ll finally have a gym in town. I hope it’s an Equinox. They’ll probably charge nonresidents a premium for membership, but it’s worth it for no more early-morning drives to Newburgh.”