"As soon as we clear the tables of their dirty dishes, the hostesses seat more guests," Jewel said, struggling to keep up with the demand.

Because of the store's lights and the increasing number of customers, the building was hotter than usual. Beads of sweat dotted the workers' foreheads as they rushed about filling orders. Jewel was no exception. Using the crook of her arm, she wiped away the sweat dripping from her face. No one wanted to taste her salty body fluid in their food. The store's air conditioning could not maintain a cool temperature, and the customers complained. Jewel called maintenance before it started to swelter. Because of the heatwave, Aaron ACs services were in high demand you. It would take them two days, maybe longer, to perform the repairs.

"Going to the beach sounds like a good way to cool down. I can almost feel the cool waves splashing over my hot body." Jewel sighed. "Let's go on a vacation together."

"I can't afford a vacation. But, what I can do is take you out," Lindy said, joining Jewel at the soda machine. "I'd like to treat you to a meal."

"I'll think about it." She had a long day and wanted to rest at home. 

"Come on, Jewel." Lindy cast her large puppy-dog eyes upon her friend.

"You look desperate," Jewel teased.

"Whatever." Lindy laughed. Suddenly, the shake she was making erupted, sending pieces of strawberry flying into her hair. It splattered pink liquid across the stainless steel shake machine.

Pulling chunks of strawberry from her colleague's hair, Jewel chuckled.

Lindy gasped. The liquid slid under her shirt.

"You're in a good mood. Celebrating Jeffrey's departure?" Reynolds stood behind them, waiting for his turn at the soda machine.

Heeding Lindy's previous warning, Jewel kept her comments about their boss to herself. Picking up her tray, she quickly took the prepared drinks to her waiting guest.

Successfully making it to the table without any incidents, Lindy grinned. She took her time handing the drinks to their owners. She presented the birthday boy with the freshly made shake. Without warning, he swung his sword in the air, promptly sending the contents of the cup flying through the air. Lindy found herself covered, for the second time that night, in strawberries.

Jewel, serving the table beside her co-worker, heard the cries and groans behind her. She turned, in time, to see the cold, pink mixture drip down her friend's legs. Snatching the roll of paper towels from her table, she rushed to Lindy's aid.

Jewel smiled. "You really like these strawberry shakes, don't you?"

Lindy assured the boy's frustrated father that it was an accident and she was alright. With the upheaval settled, she turned to her friend. "I need some good news. Did you decide to join me for dinner?

"I'm hesitant to try something new while hungry." Jewel threw the shake-filled paper towels into the trash.

"They serve the best food in the city," Lindy said.

"I know what you are doing," Jewel said. "You are trying to entice me."

"Is it working? They have your favorites: shrimp and steak."

Jewel pretended to dab at imaginary drool in the corner of her mouth. "We can go."

"You are going to love this place." Lindy wrapped her arm around Jewel's shoulders, guiding her out of the backroom.

"I'm ready now, " she said, rubbing her grumbling stomach. "It'll be a welcome distraction."

Their shifts completed, the two friends cleaned themselves up, changed their clothes, and said goodbye to Reynolds.

"You ladies have fun. Eat something for me," he responded.

"I will," Jewel promised.

They heard him whistle as they walked away.

"He's so cheeky," Lindy laughed.

Standing in the long line outside of Best Eats, the women chatted about their work schedules and Pizza Island's upcoming promotions to pass the time. Several people behind them prattled about how good the food was. Jewel's stomach rumbled.

"I wish this slow-moving line moved faster," Lindy said.

"The food must be good!" Jewel exclaimed, seeing how far the queue of patrons stretched behind them.

"It is delicious. I can't wait for you to try it."

"I'm ready; I haven't eaten."

"Stress will keep you from eating."

Searching for tell-tale signs of her burdens, Jewel touched her face. "How did you know?"

"Everyone at work could tell." Lindy pointed to the crease in her friend's forehead. "You weren't your usual friendly self today."

"I have been a little stressed. This morning's activity threw me for a loop. I guess it affected me more than I thought. Jeffrey didn't help matters any. Sometimes, I wonder why he shows up to work?"

"He is the store manager." Lindy giggled, "Even though, some of our new hires think you're in charge, of him."

Jewel laughed, shrugging her shoulders.

"You know what type of people he associates with," whispered Lindy.

Lindy acted as if using the words brought fire and damnation upon them. "You mean drug dealers?" Jewel said, smiling.

"It's not funny." Lindy looked around the room.

Jewel laughed.

"Some of Jeffrey's friends have killed people," she whispered.

Jewel strained to hear her whisperings. "Jeffrey would have to find a replacement first. Who else would put up with his bull?"

"Another control freak would," laughed Lindy, loosening up.

"True. Hey! We finally get to move."

The friends laced their arms together and followed the advancing line into the building.

"Must have been a large group ahead of us," Lindy said, holding the door open for her friend.

"Wow!" Jewel pointed at the store's one-of-a-kind display.

A beautiful array of large and small rocks forming a mountain scene took up the whole left wall. A thin waterfall flowed over the top of the mountain and touched down near several bonsai trees at the base of the rocky display.

"That is gorgeous," Jewel said.

"A local artist, Mari Clavell, created the display. It's peaceful. When I first saw it, I thought of you. You love nature."

"I do. That scene made this excursion worth it for me."

Lindy, pleased with her friend's reaction, smiled as she paid their way into the restaurant. The place was packed, and the cashier directed them where to stand while waiting on their hostess. During the wait, the two friends gossiped about who was dating at Pizza Island.

"Reynolds has a crush on one of his co-workers, but he won't tell me who it is," Lindy said.

While they were lost in their own world, laughing and having fun, someone bumped into Jewel. She swayed back and forth from the blow.

"Excuse me," the baseball cap-wearing culprit said.

"You're excused." Jewel sidestepped the hand he offered to steady her.

"I wouldn't want to hurt someone who looks like a jewel," he said. His eyes, partially blocked by his cap, were void of any expression as he peered into hers.

A shiver ran down her spine.

"Her name is Jewel," Lindy chipped in, winking at her friend.

"Lindy!" Jewel found her friend's determination to hook her up with any guy who showed an interest in her exasperating. She was not ready for any emotional complications.

"It suits you," the stranger said, never taking his covered gaze from her.

'I wish he'd adjust his hat; I am trying to get a better look at his face.'

"This way to your seats," their hostess interrupted. "Follow me."

Jewel excused herself and hastened after the middle-aged woman.

"He was cute," Lindy teased, leaning into Jewel's shoulder.

"You're terrible," Jewel exclaimed, glancing behind them. The stranger was gone.

"Why am I terrible?"

"He could be an ax murderer!"

"You need to date someone. You have too much free time on your hands. All you do is work."

"An intruder is off-limits, but an ax murderer is okay?" Jewel snickered, watching their hostess place empty plates in the center of the table. Ever since Lindy started dating, she was determined for Jewel to have a love interest too.

"You know I meant someone decent."

"I am happy by myself." Jewel didn't want a man to make her jocund. She understood, from her own mistakes, that she needed to invest in herself before getting entangled with someone.

Tugging at her clothes, Lindy nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I can see that."

Jewel frowned at the sarcasm. "I am, Lindy!"

"Okay! I just thought you might like to be a little happier." Giving up, Lindy shrugged her shoulders in defeat.

"Let's eat," Jewel said, picking up one of the plates.

Leading the way, she wended her way past the salad bar. She found desserts such as cakes or ice cream were too sweet, so she saved her salad for last, in place of her dessert. Jewel trotted over to the seafood bar.

"I want to see what goodies they offer before heading to the steak bar."

"Anything catching your eye?" Lindy asked, coming up behind her.

"The salt and pepper shrimps look interesting." Jewel read the name tags above the trays.

"Ge daliga deo pil-yohabnida," the worker called out. Reaching in front of Jewel, she removed a tray partially filled with butter and remnants of crab legs.

They glanced at each other, wondering what the worker yelled.

"Try them and while you're at it, try the Cajun shrimps," suggested Lindy.

"Cajun shrimp is best. Eat. Eat," the worker added in her broken English before walking away with the tray.

Jewel stacked the Cajun shrimps beside the salt and pepper shrimps on her plate. She felt brave enough to try two new dishes. Laughing and talking, the friends headed over to the steak bar, only to stand in another line.

The grill generated waves of uncomfortable heat.

"The worker needs a bucket of water to fight the insane temperatures rising off the grill," Lindy said.
.
Sweat beaded on the young man's forehead.

"If I worked by that grill, I would pass out," Jewel said, fanning herself.

The talented employee worked his way around the grill. He reminded Jewel of a drummer performing a solo. He sprayed sauces and tapped meats with his metal spatulas creating a musical culinary sound. Jewel tensed, waiting for one of the salty balls of sweat on his forehead to drop onto the grill. Her anticipation was short-lived. Stepping away from the grill, the worker wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

"That was close," Lindy snickered.

Arriving at the line's front, Jewel asked for a steak well done. The man behind the grill quickly added a piece of steak to the grill. Without another word, he then proceeded to take Lindy's order.

"She..." Lindy tilted her head towards Jewel, "Doesn't know how to eat good meat. Can you make mine medium rare?"

"How can you eat raw meat? It's so bloody." Jewel scrunched her nose up, piling cooked sliced mushrooms onto her plate.

Lindy laughed."The red in the meat isn't blood."

"It looks like it to me."

"The red is actual juice pigmented red," Lindy informed her.

"I still don't see how you can eat it," Jewel said. She popped a juicy mushroom into her mouth.

"The same way you can eat mushrooms. As much as you hate rare meat, I can't stand mushrooms."

"Can we agree that dinner rolls are great?" Jewel asked, playfully seeking common ground.

"Only if you put butter on them!"

"Of course," Jewel laughed.

"Find someplace else to cackle," one of the other diners said, stepping around the women blocking the fried rice. The friends suppressed their giggles as they returned to their seats.

"Oh," Lindy said, slipping on a discarded napkin. She fell into her seat.

"Are you all right?" Jewel set her tray in front of her seat.

"Just embarrassed," Lindy said, looking around to see who was watching them.

"No one is looking." Jewel searched the ground for the tripping hazard.

"I didn't want the handsome man who bumped into you to think you have a clumsy friend," she teased.

"We wouldn't want anyone to know your secret," Jewel poked fun back.

"Only I could trip over a napkin." Lindy avoided eye contact. She bent and quickly collected the dangerous paper she slipped on.

"Let's eat!" Jewel changed the subject. After a quick prayer, both girls dug into their finger foods first.

"Oh my!" Jewel picked up one of the salt and pepper shrimps.

"What's the matter?"

"The heads are still on these shrimps!" She examined the creature between her thumb and index finger.

"Cut them off," Lindy instructed, a smile resting in the corner of her mouth.

"That is so gross."

"You didn't notice the heads when you scooped them onto your plate?" Lindy pulled the skin off her chicken wing.

"I was too busy showing off with you," Jewel said defensively. The thought of chopping off the dead shrimps' heads made her sick. Trembling, she tried. She could not and shook her head in disgust.

"Here," Lindy said as she placed a crawfish on Jewel's plate. "Try this."

"How do you eat it?"

"You've eaten lobster before, right?"

"Yes." Jewel assessed the creature's head. It had a sharp snout and movable compound eyes on stalks.

Her nose wrinkled. A thin but tough exoskeleton covered the body.

"It's like a mini-lobster; eat the meat from its tail."

"Okay," Jewel said hesitantly. She picked up the crawfish and turned it over. "I am going to puke."

Lindy looked up as her friend dropped the crawfish, not caring where it landed.

"What is wrong?"

"It looks like the bottom of a giant roach."

"It does not," Lindy said, appalled by her comment. "You have issues."

"You're the one with issues. You eat raw meat and large insects," laughed Jewel.

"Eat something else," Lindy told her.

"Are the steaks and rolls safe to eat?" Joshed Jewel.

"Here. Open your mouth," Lindy ordered.

"Why?"

"I want you to try something new."

"No!" Jewel clamped her mouth shut.

"Come on. That is your problem," Lindy snapped.

"What's my problem?"

"You hang onto the old and never let in the new."

"That is not true." Her heart, skipping a beat, sent a sharp pain sliced across her chest.

"What about Danny? You've been hanging on to him for years."

Jewel's smile fell. She lowered her eyes, pushing the food around on her plate.

Lindy winced, regretting the hurtful words. She didn't know why she uttered them, they just fell out of her mouth.

"I let you into my life," Jewel returned as she twisted the head off a shrimp.