This better be good………
In olden days before the fall when they wrote it on the wall, pizza places were NOT common. There weren’t even a lot of strip malls. Our Town and Rich Town had none, Allie’s poor town had 1. It would take five+ years before they sprung up like spring dandelions.
This place resembled restaurants you ate with mom and dad. Padded booths lined the sides, long tables in the middle. Carpeted floors. The big difference was lighting: it was DARK. Faux Tiffany lamps hung over each booth. No jukebox like in a diner–musak leaking into the room from discreet cracks in the earth’s crust. Lots of talking, muffled by the booths. A baby was fussing near the kitchen.
Steve and I sat on a padded bench, waiting for his name to be called. “Wow, Steve, this is really different.”
He smiled wryly. “Pizza, it’s not just a meal in a box.”
We sit quietly, eying patrons, watching 4 people leave. “Well, the ladies are hitting it off big time.”
He nods. “Gotta hand it to you. Alison sure can turn on the charm.”
“She wiped her sweaty hand on my thigh.”
A raised eyebrow. “Interesting………..Do you guys always kiss hello with tongues?”
Hmmm, never really analyzed it. “Yeah. I think she started it to make it clear to Doug that I wasn’t a toy.”
He nods. “Well, here’s some lessons tonight about girls’ pack behavior when 2 or more gather to gab. First thing they’ll do is say that they both have to–“
The door opens, here they are. Sarah smiles down benignly. “Oh! There’s a wait? Well, Allie and I are going to the ladies’ room.”
Steve mutters: “Right on cue.”