Page 16 of Romeo & Antoinette

Lots more applause and chatter.

Mrs Cap was beside herself, telling everyone who would listen that was her husband up there and that it was her restaurant that won.

“I don’t believe this!” exclaimed Mrs Monty. “How did they win?”

“It’s okay honey. It’s really not that important.”

“Not that important?!”

“Would you like to say a couple of words?” the Mayor asked Cap.

“Yes. Yes I would,” said Cap as he grabbed the microphone.

Meanwhile, while all this was happening on stage, Romeo was desperately scanning the crowd. He was staring, straining, trying to get another glimpse of that girl. The one he saw earlier. Wondering if she was still there. Wondering where she went.

He moved from face to face, working a grid pattern over the gathering like a Navy search pilot looking for crash survivors. What he saw was a sweaty mix of friends, families, neighbors and visitors. What he didn’t see was her. Up and back, side to side he swept the scene. Then. Finally. As the setting summer sun caught the sparkle in her eyes, he found her.

He tried to will her to look over in his direction. He spoke softly, under his breath. “Come on, hey, look over here.” Trying to get her to turn toward him so they could make eye contact again.

“I’d like to thank the Mayor, his deputy Patrick, and all the other distinguished ladies and gentleman that voted for us today. We at Cap’s are beyond thrilled to be voted the best cheesesteak in town.”

Then Cap took a second and scanned the crowd. He quickly found Monty and gave him an I won and you didn’t smirk.

“Ooooh… I loathe him,” said Mrs Monty through clenched teeth.

“And to show our appreciation,” continued Cap, “we’d like to invite each and every one of you to a huge party we’ll be hosting tomorrow night at our restaurant. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, bring your family. There’ll be food and drink specials all night long!”

The crowd liked that. They applauded enthusiastically and Cap drank it all in, smiling smugly up on the stage. “Thank you, thank you all,” he said. And then, just before he handed the microphone back to the Mayor, Cap raised both fists and the trophy into the air and shouted “Cheez Whiz Rules!”

And the feud went on…

“Come on, this way,” whispered Romeo, still trying to get her to look in his direction. He kept debating making a move, but he was hesitating. Truth was, he was nervous. Which was odd, for him. Why the hell am I nervous? I never get nervous around girls.

That was true. Meeting girls had always come easy for him. On top of that, most of the girls that met him seemed to really like him. And why not? He was eminently likable. Smart, funny, strong yet sensitive, not to mention exceedingly good looking. Oh, and that whole soulful painting thing he had going on. That was quite the panty dropper. But this girl? Why was this girl making him nervous?

Romeo could feel that the event was ending. The crowd was thinning out, and the applause and chatter had all but died down. He knew that his window was closing and if he was ever going to meet her it was now or never.

Obliviously, he stepped off the curb. He should have been paying more attention. He should have checked both ways first. Every six year old kid knows to check both ways before crossing the street. But in his current, hyper focused state, he didn’t. That’s when the Mayor ran over his foot.

“Ouch!” Romeo hopped back up on the curb.

Beeeeeeep…!!! Went the horn on the Mayor’s Rascal as he laid on the button, annoyed that the plate of zeppoles balancing on his scooter shelf had just flown off into the crowd. Peppering everyone with powdered sugar.

Romeo limped around in circles trying to walk it off as the Mayor harrumphed and rode on, with Patrick trailing two steps behind. By the time the pain had subsided enough to get him back to where he started, she was gone. Again.

6

“Cheez Whiz? What is that?” asked Mrs Monty as they walked back to their stand. Her electric orange hair leading the way, like a beacon home. “Tasteless, thick, sticky, yellow gloop…”

“People like it,” said Monty, shrugging as he walked.

“What people?”

“People.”

“Well, I don’t like it.”

“Sometimes the lowest common denominator wins. Look at McDonalds. They took over the world. You think they’re known for their quality meats?”

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