Page 28 of Flirtasaurus
“Um. Just curious. How long did you wait for me?”
“Not too long! Got here around one-ish?”
I take a quick peek at my phone screen. It’s almost four. Geezus. Who does that? What is up with this girl?
She starts chomping on her stone-cold French fries next. That’s not the saddest part, though. The saddest part is that she looks completely delighted while doing so. I’m reminded of that time when I was twelve, and my friends across the street invited me to come swim in their above-ground pool on a superhot day. My little brother was only eight, and like a typical preteen, I found him super annoying. He begged to come swim with us, but I wouldn’t let him. Years later, I was flipping through old photos and found a picture of him taken that same afternoon. He was running through the sprinkler in our backyard all alone, his eyes bright and his mouth wide open as he jumped through the spray and laughed. It was no above-ground pool, but he was delighted all the same. The discovery of that picture pretty much made me feel like the worst sister ever.
“Mabel, I really am sorry I—”
She waves off my apology between bites and says, “Oh look, it’s Otto! I love Otto!”
“You and everybody else, it seems.” I look up and see him talking with the cashier.
“Awwwww and he’s chatting with Nancy.” She lowers her voice and goes all sing-songy. “Otto and Nancy are in love.”
“Really?”
“Well, just look at them. It’s so obvious.”
Is it obvious? Maybe. Then maybe turns to definitely as Otto picks up his tray and moves in our direction, and I notice his face is definitely tinted a fresh pink.
“Mabel!” he says when he spots us. “I see you’re joining us for dunch?”
Her face twists in confusion.
“We decided it was too early for dinner, but too late for lunch, so we’re calling it dunch,” I explain.
“Fun! I like it! Though may I add a third option to the mix? Only if you don’t mind?”
“Sure. I mean—”
“Hear me out, but what do we think about calling it lupper?
“Lupper?” I grumble.
“Yeah! We three can be lupper buddies! My parents and I have always called dinner supper. Lunch plus supper equals… lupper!”
“I dunno. Supper makes me think of The Last Supper. And lupper sounds a bit too much like leper. Infectious skin diseases and feasting on Jesus’s body and blood don’t do much for my appetite.”
“You’re right, you’re right. We’re sticking with dunch!” Mabel chirps.
“What the hell are you talking about, kid?” Otto rasps as he gnaws on a rubbery chicken finger.
“Forget it.” I shake my head. “Grew up super religious. Lots of leper talk.”
“Ah,” he says knowingly. “How’d that work out for ya?”
“As a kid, okay, I guess? As a teen and adult, though, not so great. Parents and I don’t really see eye to eye these days. On a lot of things.”
“Really? Aw, that’s so sad!” Mabel says. “My parents are the absolute best. My favorite people in the whole entire world! Why don’t you love your parents?”
“Who said I don’t love my parents? Of course, I love my parents! We’re just… very different people. They don’t really understand me. Or maybe I don’t understand them? I dunno. There’s a ton of love between us, it’s just—”
All right, why am I opening up to these people I barely know? I hate having to explain myself. To anyone. But especially near strangers. “You know what, guys? I actually have to head home and get crackin’ on stuffing these invites.”
“But you haven’t even touched your dunch!” Mabel says with seriousness.
I start packing the various items from my tray into my backpack. “It’s cool. I’m actually more of a solo duncher. I’ll eat at home.”
