[OPEN to all]
Friday nights in town were lively, for an alcohol town with a podunk problem.
It was a warm one, as Florida summer nights tend to be. The blistering day had peeled off into a sweaty evening by 8PM, and folks were finally starting to venture out from under their rocks.
In the park, some people lazily gathered for a small show. A dinky collection of local bands playing locally crap music, in front of a crowd of intoxicated townies. The stage was constructed of wood pallets, with a plank of plywood laid over top to stand on. Some people laid down blankets to spread out, or make out on, but most folks stood about in groups of pleasant, drunken shouting. Some folks lounged in their parked vehicles, nipping shooters or finishing lines of coke off the dashboard. The air smelled mildly of B.O., strongly of cigarettes, and lightly of that sour, cheap beer stink.
“Look behind you! There’s a man!” The guy on stage, Mack, shouted into the microphone stand. “I just made that up. Dirty Panties! Diiirrrrttttyyyyyy Paaaaaannnnttttiiieeesss!” The accompaniment of the drums behind Mack let everyone know that this yelling was, in fact, music. “Hop on my back! Ride me like a donkey!”
Someone rolled a keg across the grass, and was cheered by the crowd.
“Hee-haw! Choke me until I piss!” Mack yelled into the mic. His dark mop of hair was damp from sweat, and he flung it around like he was a heavy metalist. The t-shirt he wore had been crudely cut just under his (muscular and strong) chest, (exposing his ripped abs) and the jeans were likewise hacked into wildly short jorts. On his feet, mud-covered work boots that left crumbles of dirt sprinkling onto the makeshift stage with each stomp.
“You like that?” He hollered into the crowd, yet at no one. “You like that?!” He stopped to light a cigarette while the long-haired drummer took on a wicked lick of a solo. It took him a few tries to set the end on fire, because he had been operating in a black out state for the last hour.
Friday nights in town were lively, for an alcohol town with a podunk problem.
It was a warm one, as Florida summer nights tend to be. The blistering day had peeled off into a sweaty evening by 8PM, and folks were finally starting to venture out from under their rocks.
In the park, some people lazily gathered for a small show. A dinky collection of local bands playing locally crap music, in front of a crowd of intoxicated townies. The stage was constructed of wood pallets, with a plank of plywood laid over top to stand on. Some people laid down blankets to spread out, or make out on, but most folks stood about in groups of pleasant, drunken shouting. Some folks lounged in their parked vehicles, nipping shooters or finishing lines of coke off the dashboard. The air smelled mildly of B.O., strongly of cigarettes, and lightly of that sour, cheap beer stink.
“Look behind you! There’s a man!” The guy on stage, Mack, shouted into the microphone stand. “I just made that up. Dirty Panties! Diiirrrrttttyyyyyy Paaaaaannnnttttiiieeesss!” The accompaniment of the drums behind Mack let everyone know that this yelling was, in fact, music. “Hop on my back! Ride me like a donkey!”
Someone rolled a keg across the grass, and was cheered by the crowd.
“Hee-haw! Choke me until I piss!” Mack yelled into the mic. His dark mop of hair was damp from sweat, and he flung it around like he was a heavy metalist. The t-shirt he wore had been crudely cut just under his (muscular and strong) chest, (exposing his ripped abs) and the jeans were likewise hacked into wildly short jorts. On his feet, mud-covered work boots that left crumbles of dirt sprinkling onto the makeshift stage with each stomp.
“You like that?” He hollered into the crowd, yet at no one. “You like that?!” He stopped to light a cigarette while the long-haired drummer took on a wicked lick of a solo. It took him a few tries to set the end on fire, because he had been operating in a black out state for the last hour.
On her way back from ballet rehearsals, Felicita's attention was caught by the loud music that echoed through the park. It would have been difficult not to notice; it was audible even outside of the gates, and she had to pass through the park to get home, if she didn't want to take the long way round.
She was a little surprised to find an actual stage, makeshift though it clearly was, and what genuinely appeared to be a band playing - a small local one, who looked prettty thoroughly drunk, but an actual band, or at least a drummer and a man who could be argued to be a singer. Felicita decided to give him the benefit of the doubt on that.
Although she was also rather eager to hurry home to Leo and Elmo, Felicita couldn't help but pause for a moment to watch. She was clearly rather out of place here; her clothes were very casual - the light jumper, short pink skirt, and long white socks she'd picked out as an easy outfit to change into after rehearsals, which also didn't require removing her leotard from beneath them - but clearly clean, and smelling only of detergent and a waft of her cheap vanilla perfume. Her red hair was loose around her shoulders, a little wavy from the bun it had been pulled back into.
She was watching the singer as he struggled to light his cigarette; from a safe distance, she could admit that there was something about him that she found... if not attractive (although she thought his face would probably be really quite handsome if he wasn't clearly deeply intoxicated), then... entrancing. Magnetising. Felicita held her pink bag a little tighter to her chest as she watched him, admiring.
She was a little surprised to find an actual stage, makeshift though it clearly was, and what genuinely appeared to be a band playing - a small local one, who looked prettty thoroughly drunk, but an actual band, or at least a drummer and a man who could be argued to be a singer. Felicita decided to give him the benefit of the doubt on that.
Although she was also rather eager to hurry home to Leo and Elmo, Felicita couldn't help but pause for a moment to watch. She was clearly rather out of place here; her clothes were very casual - the light jumper, short pink skirt, and long white socks she'd picked out as an easy outfit to change into after rehearsals, which also didn't require removing her leotard from beneath them - but clearly clean, and smelling only of detergent and a waft of her cheap vanilla perfume. Her red hair was loose around her shoulders, a little wavy from the bun it had been pulled back into.
She was watching the singer as he struggled to light his cigarette; from a safe distance, she could admit that there was something about him that she found... if not attractive (although she thought his face would probably be really quite handsome if he wasn't clearly deeply intoxicated), then... entrancing. Magnetising. Felicita held her pink bag a little tighter to her chest as she watched him, admiring.
Tam had been holed up in her apartment for a few days since moving in, and of course on this warm day, she had trouble with her air conditioner. It kept tripping the circuit breaker. She put in a service request for it with the apartment management, but she was guessing it would be a while before it got looked at.So as the evening approached, she decided to go out for a walk and get used to her neighborhood. Dressed in an olive-green halter top and denim shorts, she was cooler outside than inside her stuffy apartment.
Having noted the location of Suzu-Q's, a cute, homely diner, she would have to make it a point to see how their breakfasts are. She also noted the bar... Shirley's. Maybe some evening... not tonight. Of course, the big box Walmart took up a block, and then there was a strip club named 'The Doghouse' not far from there.
Tammy did work at a strip club in college, but she only served tables. She never got the guts to actually strip. Wearing those skimpy outfits was enough. Now, she was probably too old to be hired, but she wouldn't rule out applying if she had trouble paying her bills.
Taking a side street to avoid a trashy trailer park, Tam passed by a coffeeshop called Crazy Beans. Right now she was drinking Folger's Instant. Maybe she would splurge for a mocha sometime.
When she found the walk-path that led into Woodrow Park, she walked through the trees toward where she could hear an electric guitar being tuned and some guy calling out to some dirty panties. There was an increasing din of voices and when she came out to the open grass, there was a stage with some musicians and people gathering, and a couple guys tapping a beer keg. She had walked right into a 'Party in the Park'!
She walked over to the guys getting the keg ready. She hoped it didn't erupt into foam when it was tapped, but the rolling did seem gentle enough and if it was a hazy brew, it would be well-stirred. "I'll have a beer once you get this going."
Turning to watch the stage and the antics the 'lead singer' was doing as he lit his cigarette. The drumming wasn't too bad! Tam started to sway to the beat when she wondered where the burning weed was coming from.
Alois was not fucking happy. The one day he had decided to move from behind the apartments, to sleep in the park (or rather outside it, in one of those bus stops things (albeit a worn-out one)), a bunch of people had gathered, singing (if you could call it that) suggestive songs, drinking and smoking and honestly, who knows what else.
Alois sat up, rubbing the sleepy out of his eyes, and got off of the bus stop seat and turned his head to the park to see what in the bloody hell was going on. From what he gathered, a party. Alois sighed, rubbing his eyes again and stretching briefly.
He would admit, his curiosity was getting the best of him. Maybe he could find some drunk-as-a-skunk or high-as-a-kite people to pickpocket, after all, they seemed oblivious enough. Alois' grumpy expression slowly turned into a mischievous smirk, as he trudged into the park with a plan in mind.
Upon first walking into the party, loud screaming.......wait oh, that was singing? and the smell of sweat, beer and weed instantly hit him in the face. Alois covered his nose and grumbled something under his breath, then scanned the area for an unsuspecting drunkard to try and pickpocket from.
A wallet, maybe? If Alois dared.
Or maybe just enough cash to get through the week........
Alois sat up, rubbing the sleepy out of his eyes, and got off of the bus stop seat and turned his head to the park to see what in the bloody hell was going on. From what he gathered, a party. Alois sighed, rubbing his eyes again and stretching briefly.
He would admit, his curiosity was getting the best of him. Maybe he could find some drunk-as-a-skunk or high-as-a-kite people to pickpocket, after all, they seemed oblivious enough. Alois' grumpy expression slowly turned into a mischievous smirk, as he trudged into the park with a plan in mind.
Upon first walking into the party, loud screaming.......wait oh, that was singing? and the smell of sweat, beer and weed instantly hit him in the face. Alois covered his nose and grumbled something under his breath, then scanned the area for an unsuspecting drunkard to try and pickpocket from.
A wallet, maybe? If Alois dared.
Or maybe just enough cash to get through the week........
With the cigarette finally lit, Mack smoked for an expansive moment to the backdrop of the drum lick, rocking his head and stomping his foot. Then, he coughed into the microphone and when he was finished he crowed, “lost boys never grow up!”
The rally of intoxicated people… cheered. It wasn’t even dark yet. The sun was setting leisurely in the distance, horrified by what it’s witnessed thus far. Afterwards, under the veil of dark, who knew what atrocities would unfold…
Mack smacked the mic stand to the pallet floor, while the next guy up glared at him, and he stumbled off the stage. He would’ve eaten grass if the burly drummer hadn’t stepped down first, for Mack to land and balance himself on.
The drummer patted Mack’s back with slamming, jarring swats of good-jest and said something in heavy Scottish that Mack could not understand an ounce of. They laughed, before Mack staggered towards the keg set up. On his way, he dropped his cigarette butt in an unattended solo cup and got side tracked by the smell of cheap, dirt weed like a cartoon character whiffing a scent trail of pie.
He stopped amongst some dudes with tattooed throats and hit their pipe. The people around him were a blur of motion and noise, his vision forced to tunnel on whatever was directly in his path of attention. He passed back the pipe, and felt his world twirl with the expelled smoke. “Whoa,” he muttered, then wiped his mouth and pointed at the pipe. “Hey, was that weed?” Mack asked. To which, a tattoo-throated man laughed.
Mack nonchalantly laughed too. “Okay, yeah, cya dude,” he turned, determined to find that elusive keg stand. His line of vision spotted a boy in the crowd of party-goers, a kid, dipping in and out. “Are you playing tag?” Mack yelled, with far too much enthusiasm. He was going to dash off after the boy, but he tripped on a discarded pair of sweatpants and stumbled into a ballerina. He steadied himself with his hands on her shoulders and slurred, “oh man, I’m sorry about that. Are you going on stage?”
The rally of intoxicated people… cheered. It wasn’t even dark yet. The sun was setting leisurely in the distance, horrified by what it’s witnessed thus far. Afterwards, under the veil of dark, who knew what atrocities would unfold…
Mack smacked the mic stand to the pallet floor, while the next guy up glared at him, and he stumbled off the stage. He would’ve eaten grass if the burly drummer hadn’t stepped down first, for Mack to land and balance himself on.
The drummer patted Mack’s back with slamming, jarring swats of good-jest and said something in heavy Scottish that Mack could not understand an ounce of. They laughed, before Mack staggered towards the keg set up. On his way, he dropped his cigarette butt in an unattended solo cup and got side tracked by the smell of cheap, dirt weed like a cartoon character whiffing a scent trail of pie.
He stopped amongst some dudes with tattooed throats and hit their pipe. The people around him were a blur of motion and noise, his vision forced to tunnel on whatever was directly in his path of attention. He passed back the pipe, and felt his world twirl with the expelled smoke. “Whoa,” he muttered, then wiped his mouth and pointed at the pipe. “Hey, was that weed?” Mack asked. To which, a tattoo-throated man laughed.
Mack nonchalantly laughed too. “Okay, yeah, cya dude,” he turned, determined to find that elusive keg stand. His line of vision spotted a boy in the crowd of party-goers, a kid, dipping in and out. “Are you playing tag?” Mack yelled, with far too much enthusiasm. He was going to dash off after the boy, but he tripped on a discarded pair of sweatpants and stumbled into a ballerina. He steadied himself with his hands on her shoulders and slurred, “oh man, I’m sorry about that. Are you going on stage?”
The moment Alois realized he had been spotted and was called to, was the moment Alois' heart almost felt like it would leap out of his chest. Alois side-stepped into a crowd and squirmed past a few people, trying to stay hidden. Thankfully, that drunk idiot had tripped on a pair of sweatpants, letting Alois get away from him.
He made his way to a woman that was watching the stage and waiting for a beer.
Alois took a few steps towards her and reached his hand out, carefully and gently trying to pickpocket Tammy's back pocket of her denim shorts. Alois was hoping a credit card, or maybe some cash. Oh, and he was also hoping he wouldn't be caught.
He made his way to a woman that was watching the stage and waiting for a beer.
Alois took a few steps towards her and reached his hand out, carefully and gently trying to pickpocket Tammy's back pocket of her denim shorts. Alois was hoping a credit card, or maybe some cash. Oh, and he was also hoping he wouldn't be caught.
Felicita's eyes followed the singer, hand darting to her mouth to hide a gasp as he tripped off the stage. She was very relieved for him that the drummer caught him. He was clearly quite deeply intoxicated, and she told herself that she should stop staring and go home.
She stayed firmly rooted in place.
She did tear her gaze away, though, as he took a smoke from someone watching and she lost track of him for a moment. Her gaze wandered the rest of the crowd, observing from her spot like a naturalist watching wildlife - right up until someone crashed into her.
Hands flying up to try to catch him as she took an elegant step back to steady them both, her eyes widened in recognition. She fumbled for her words for a moment, as the smell of drugs and alcohol and body odour filled her mind, and she couldn't tear her gaze from his face.
"Oh - it's alright! Are you okay?" She kept her hands lightly on his arms, holding him steady. "On stage? No, no! No, I was just walking home. I heard you singing. I just had to stop and listen."
Her honey eyes were sweet and sincere on his face as she spoke, her freckled face unbeguiling.
She stayed firmly rooted in place.
She did tear her gaze away, though, as he took a smoke from someone watching and she lost track of him for a moment. Her gaze wandered the rest of the crowd, observing from her spot like a naturalist watching wildlife - right up until someone crashed into her.
Hands flying up to try to catch him as she took an elegant step back to steady them both, her eyes widened in recognition. She fumbled for her words for a moment, as the smell of drugs and alcohol and body odour filled her mind, and she couldn't tear her gaze from his face.
"Oh - it's alright! Are you okay?" She kept her hands lightly on his arms, holding him steady. "On stage? No, no! No, I was just walking home. I heard you singing. I just had to stop and listen."
Her honey eyes were sweet and sincere on his face as she spoke, her freckled face unbeguiling.
Dressed in a weathered black ballcap and thick shades to hide an inky visage that just so happened to be growing darker with irritation the longer he was out in the bright sun, Spence was mostly incognito up until now. Rugged jeans and a fitting classic black tee, paired with Doc Martens, completed his attire. Said Doc Martens caused heavy footfalls as he lazily crossed the stage to the mic when the hateful guy after Mack finally exited stage right, nearly knocking into a duo of cackling schoolgirls. Was everyone here intoxicated? Nope, not really, at least not yet, but Spencer's side of the park was about 50/50 as far as he could tell. Once on stage, he wasn't so incognito anymore and was about to give one hell of an impression, whether they remembered him.. or not.
"She said, 'Are you serious? I've tried, but I can't figure out... I've been next to you all night and still don't know what you're about'~" he practically growled into the microphone melodically, that soft-spoken tone of his cut to shreds by a heavy rasp on each word. He moved across the stage like smoke on water for the chorus, engaging with the crowd as if perhaps this wasn't his first time performing. A ghoulish grin tugged at his lips as those dark eyes locked onto a random soul in the crowd, "I see you eyeing me down, but you'll never know much past my name, or how I'm running this room around and that I'm still half your age~ Yeah, you're looking, looking at me like I'm some sweet escape..." He broke the intense gaze with the random, chuckling softly into the mic as the song continued.
A light head tilt was given as he also noticed a certain blondie reaching towards Tammy's backside, or that's what it seemed like he was doing from this angle. He didn't snitch, though, because it wasn't his business and he had faith that if the kid was caught in the act he'd get a good slap to the head anyway. Plus, he was currently a little busy. The melodic vocals shifted into heavier screams that caused a frenzy in the metalheads out there, cheering loudly and toasting the stage with their solo cups in approval. "Thanks," Spence said with a laugh when the song ended, making his way back into the sea of bodies to try and vanish again. Once he found a cozy spot of his own to watch any other singers/bands, his shades were taken off and hung on the collar of his shirt gently now that the annoying sun ball had slowly started to sink enough to stop blinding him.
"She said, 'Are you serious? I've tried, but I can't figure out... I've been next to you all night and still don't know what you're about'~" he practically growled into the microphone melodically, that soft-spoken tone of his cut to shreds by a heavy rasp on each word. He moved across the stage like smoke on water for the chorus, engaging with the crowd as if perhaps this wasn't his first time performing. A ghoulish grin tugged at his lips as those dark eyes locked onto a random soul in the crowd, "I see you eyeing me down, but you'll never know much past my name, or how I'm running this room around and that I'm still half your age~ Yeah, you're looking, looking at me like I'm some sweet escape..." He broke the intense gaze with the random, chuckling softly into the mic as the song continued.
A light head tilt was given as he also noticed a certain blondie reaching towards Tammy's backside, or that's what it seemed like he was doing from this angle. He didn't snitch, though, because it wasn't his business and he had faith that if the kid was caught in the act he'd get a good slap to the head anyway. Plus, he was currently a little busy. The melodic vocals shifted into heavier screams that caused a frenzy in the metalheads out there, cheering loudly and toasting the stage with their solo cups in approval. "Thanks," Spence said with a laugh when the song ended, making his way back into the sea of bodies to try and vanish again. Once he found a cozy spot of his own to watch any other singers/bands, his shades were taken off and hung on the collar of his shirt gently now that the annoying sun ball had slowly started to sink enough to stop blinding him.
Tam had just gotten a beer and turned to watch the stage when some nefarious sorts came shuffling by. All she had was her phone on her as she used it instead of her card for paying, and she also had a digital license on it. If she lost it she would be in big trouble.
When some blonde dude crept up and made a move to slip her phone out of her pocket, her hand intercepted his grab, and she gave him a hard stare. "Don't fuck with me, you." she growled at him as she threw his hand away. She impressed herself for stopping a pickpocket while not spilling her beer. She noted his face, and hoped nobody else was taken advantage of.
Tam then turned her attention to the stage and started swaying to the heavy music. She gave a loud cheer to the guy who was leaving the stage.
When some blonde dude crept up and made a move to slip her phone out of her pocket, her hand intercepted his grab, and she gave him a hard stare. "Don't fuck with me, you." she growled at him as she threw his hand away. She impressed herself for stopping a pickpocket while not spilling her beer. She noted his face, and hoped nobody else was taken advantage of.
Tam then turned her attention to the stage and started swaying to the heavy music. She gave a loud cheer to the guy who was leaving the stage.
Alois grinned as he felt the phone, but his grin was quickly wiped away when Tammy grabbed his wrist.
Alois' eyes widened and he glanced up at Tammy. And he didn't even respond, as he had no time too, before Tammy threw his hand away.
Alois stared for a moment, then stepped back a few steps. He then scurried off into the crowd again, until he made his way to a spot in the park that didn't have as many people, then he sat down in the grass and sighed loudly, resting his cheek in the palm of his hand.
Alois' eyes widened and he glanced up at Tammy. And he didn't even respond, as he had no time too, before Tammy threw his hand away.
Alois stared for a moment, then stepped back a few steps. He then scurried off into the crowd again, until he made his way to a spot in the park that didn't have as many people, then he sat down in the grass and sighed loudly, resting his cheek in the palm of his hand.
An obviously pleased grin smeared over Mack’s mouth. He bounced his brows at her, seeming to take a closer look at her face now.
“Lured ya in like a siren, did I?” Mack teased, using her willing help to right his footing on the wavering ground. She was pretty, Mack liked her sunshine eyes. “You look like a ballerina,” he’d struggled with the sentence a little but it had been distinguishable enough as English.
Then his head whipped towards the stage as a new singer began belting, like a dog called with a whistle. “Hey who the fuck is that!” Mack yelled, to no one and no one answered. He took a moment to bop around to the beat, not exactly… dancing but moving for sure. When the song ended, Mack tried to crane his neck to follow the artist, and quickly lost him in the crowd. He turned his attention back to the ballerina.
“Lured ya in like a siren, did I?” Mack teased, using her willing help to right his footing on the wavering ground. She was pretty, Mack liked her sunshine eyes. “You look like a ballerina,” he’d struggled with the sentence a little but it had been distinguishable enough as English.
Then his head whipped towards the stage as a new singer began belting, like a dog called with a whistle. “Hey who the fuck is that!” Mack yelled, to no one and no one answered. He took a moment to bop around to the beat, not exactly… dancing but moving for sure. When the song ended, Mack tried to crane his neck to follow the artist, and quickly lost him in the crowd. He turned his attention back to the ballerina.
Felicita kept her hands in place until she was certain the singer had found his footing once more, and even then, perhaps they lingered just a moment longer than necessary, before she seemed to recall herself and withdrew them with a slight flush growing beneath her freckles.
"Just like a siren," she agreed. He was obviously very drunk, but she still felt drawn to him, transfixed, enchanted. "Although I think the sirens usually let the ships crash into the rocks, not... come and crash into the sailors themselves. Not that I'm complaining." The joke was a little feeble, but Felicita didn't think she could really be blamed, when he was giving her a grin like that. Her flush deepened as he continued, and she tucked her hair behind her ear, with a pleased smile. "You have a good eye - I am a ballerina."
She followed his gaze to the new singer with interest. Felicita had never thought she'd find guys like this attractive, but she had to admit, maybe she was discovering a type. Still, once his act was over, her attention was fully back on the guy in front of her. "I'm Felicita," she said, with a slightly shy smile.
"Just like a siren," she agreed. He was obviously very drunk, but she still felt drawn to him, transfixed, enchanted. "Although I think the sirens usually let the ships crash into the rocks, not... come and crash into the sailors themselves. Not that I'm complaining." The joke was a little feeble, but Felicita didn't think she could really be blamed, when he was giving her a grin like that. Her flush deepened as he continued, and she tucked her hair behind her ear, with a pleased smile. "You have a good eye - I am a ballerina."
She followed his gaze to the new singer with interest. Felicita had never thought she'd find guys like this attractive, but she had to admit, maybe she was discovering a type. Still, once his act was over, her attention was fully back on the guy in front of her. "I'm Felicita," she said, with a slightly shy smile.
A food truck with a logo of a wok with food flying out of it with BANGKOK EXPRESS circled around the wok. The menu was posted beside the food truck's window on a black chalkboard. The menu displayed the mix-match fusion of Chinese and Thai cuisine. The items on the menu were doodled beside the pricing. Bangkok Express was ran by a small family from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Ma took orders and handled the money. The twins, Sunny and Chao, made the orders. If anyone was close to the window, the family spoke Mandarin.
Due to the local gathering of people and bands in the park, business was booming. "匆忙！订单来了!" Ma was shouting to her sons. "一份鸡肉串来啦!" Chao shouted back and placed a huge chicken breast smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce on skewer in a disposable food container. Ma handed the customer their food.
Due to the local gathering of people and bands in the park, business was booming. "匆忙！订单来了!" Ma was shouting to her sons. "一份鸡肉串来啦!" Chao shouted back and placed a huge chicken breast smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce on skewer in a disposable food container. Ma handed the customer their food.
Translation
Ma: "Hurry! Orders are piling up!"
Chao: "One chicken skewer coming up!"
Ma: "Hurry! Orders are piling up!"
Chao: "One chicken skewer coming up!"
Getting a night off from Shirley's, Sindy decided to spend some time out of the Apartment and go to Woodrow Park to unwind. At thirty-four weeks pregnant with triplets, Sindy was definitely in the home-stretch. She had enough money saved up to cover rent to the end of the lease and was also looking for a Work-From-Home Job so that she can be home to take care of her triplets, finding it extremely unlikely that any given Office Job would have a daycare center for infants or toddlers, not to mention how expensive daycare is on its own. There was also the matter of working nights at a bar not being completely viable for postpartum (at least in her opinion), but that was another thing to figure out another time.
But for this evening, Sindy was shoving these thoughts out and was just going to enjoy a relaxing night. It seemed to be a bit festive as she entered. Some were singing, others were playing instruments and there were people dancing a little bit too. Other then that, just a lot of foot traffic. Straightening out her dress, Sindy started waddling into the park with a smile on her face as she straightened out her hair. One of the first things to catch her eye was the food truck that was a little bit busy. As she thought about waddling away, her stomach let out a loud and eager growl, prompting her to frown. "Okay, fine..." she sighed before going up to join the line for the food truck.
Looks like Business was booming and the food smelled delicious. After a couple of minutes, Sindy proceeded to order her meal after a quick glance at the menu. "Hi there! I'll take two orders of the Pad Krapow Gai!" She said with a smile on her face. "And I'll also take a Sichuan-Style Shaokao and a Chicken Skewer too!"
She would then reach into her purse to grab her Debit Card so that she could pay for her food, a smile on her face. This was pretty much a big meal for her and Sindy was very much looking forward to eating it! She would then step aside so that others go get their orders in and happily waited for hers! Even if it was a pretty big order, to which she giggled a little bit.
But for this evening, Sindy was shoving these thoughts out and was just going to enjoy a relaxing night. It seemed to be a bit festive as she entered. Some were singing, others were playing instruments and there were people dancing a little bit too. Other then that, just a lot of foot traffic. Straightening out her dress, Sindy started waddling into the park with a smile on her face as she straightened out her hair. One of the first things to catch her eye was the food truck that was a little bit busy. As she thought about waddling away, her stomach let out a loud and eager growl, prompting her to frown. "Okay, fine..." she sighed before going up to join the line for the food truck.
Looks like Business was booming and the food smelled delicious. After a couple of minutes, Sindy proceeded to order her meal after a quick glance at the menu. "Hi there! I'll take two orders of the Pad Krapow Gai!" She said with a smile on her face. "And I'll also take a Sichuan-Style Shaokao and a Chicken Skewer too!"
She would then reach into her purse to grab her Debit Card so that she could pay for her food, a smile on her face. This was pretty much a big meal for her and Sindy was very much looking forward to eating it! She would then step aside so that others go get their orders in and happily waited for hers! Even if it was a pretty big order, to which she giggled a little bit.
"Welcome to Bangkok Express!" Ma said with a smile. She wrote down Sindy's order then shouted back her order in Mandarin to the back. "That would be 7.45," she said and grabbed Sindy's debit card. "You are practically glowing. How far are you?" Ma asked as she slid the card on the card reader before handing back to Sindy. Chao and Sunny were cooking Sindy's order currently while goofing around a bit and split some chili oil on the floor. She turned to her sons and scolded, "地板上有价值十八美元的辣椒油。把它清理干净."
"对不起，妈妈," Sunny apologized and grabbed a rag to clean it up. Chao simply returned back to cooking and plating up the food. "Order for two pad krapow gai, one sichuan-style shaokao, and a chicken skewer!" Ma called out and held a paper bag with food stored in plastic disposable containers accompanied by plastic silverware and various sauces.
"对不起，妈妈," Sunny apologized and grabbed a rag to clean it up. Chao simply returned back to cooking and plating up the food. "Order for two pad krapow gai, one sichuan-style shaokao, and a chicken skewer!" Ma called out and held a paper bag with food stored in plastic disposable containers accompanied by plastic silverware and various sauces.
Translation
Ma: "That is eighteen dollars worth of chili oil on the floor. Clean it up."
Sunny: "Sorry, Ma."
Ma: "That is eighteen dollars worth of chili oil on the floor. Clean it up."
Sunny: "Sorry, Ma."
Sindy was a little shocked at the low price, but wasn't about to argue with it. As long as it all tasted good and was filling for her...since she was eating for four...she'd be very happy. The woman, Ma, inside the Food Truck briefly took her card to slide it on the card reader. As she straightened out her dress, Ma proceeded to tell her that she was glowing and asked how far along she was. As she cradled her belly, Sindy looked up at her. "Thirty-four weeks. Triplets!" She replied, a smile on her face.
Ma gave Sindy her Debit Card back and entered a five-dollar tip once prompted to do so. Sindy watched as Ma then proceeded to turn back and scolded the cooks, leading her to presume that something was spilled. Sadly, Sindy could not see and her humongous belly, measuring at a staggering fifty-five inches, would likely prevent her from investigating further. Probably for the best, she even felt her stomach growling eagerly as the scent of her meal hit her nostrils. She was gonna be eating very well this evening, which made Sindy very happy.
Her order was called out a few minutes later. Pad Krapow Gai, Sichuan-style Shaokao and a Chicken Skewer, all neatly packed up in a bag for her. Sindy reached up for it once it stuck out the window. "Thank you! Have a good night!"
The expectant mother glanced around and proceeded to waddle to a vacant bench to sit down before slowly unpacking her meal and placing the plate on top of her belly, practically using it as an improvised table and enjoy her meal. She did keep a supportive hand on the plate though so that the babies wouldn't kick the plate and spill the food everywhere. Sindy would then savor every bite, enjoying her meal quietly.
Ma gave Sindy her Debit Card back and entered a five-dollar tip once prompted to do so. Sindy watched as Ma then proceeded to turn back and scolded the cooks, leading her to presume that something was spilled. Sadly, Sindy could not see and her humongous belly, measuring at a staggering fifty-five inches, would likely prevent her from investigating further. Probably for the best, she even felt her stomach growling eagerly as the scent of her meal hit her nostrils. She was gonna be eating very well this evening, which made Sindy very happy.
Her order was called out a few minutes later. Pad Krapow Gai, Sichuan-style Shaokao and a Chicken Skewer, all neatly packed up in a bag for her. Sindy reached up for it once it stuck out the window. "Thank you! Have a good night!"
The expectant mother glanced around and proceeded to waddle to a vacant bench to sit down before slowly unpacking her meal and placing the plate on top of her belly, practically using it as an improvised table and enjoy her meal. She did keep a supportive hand on the plate though so that the babies wouldn't kick the plate and spill the food everywhere. Sindy would then savor every bite, enjoying her meal quietly.
Mack had it in his mind that he needed to introduce himself to the singer, as a fellow artist, but the pink that blushed the ballerina’s cheeks caught him up. That cute, rosey color was making him reevaluate this interaction, replay it in his mind and try to pick out the blurry details for review. Well on his way to convincing himself that Felicita was into this, he smiled. Dopey, large and whole-hearted.
“Nice t’meet you, I’m Mack,” he greeted, holding out a hand for her to take and shake. “Are you stayin’ awhile, Felicita?” It was an invitation of sorts, dressed as a casual question.
Another musician took the stage to make their noise, while the crowd around them continued their steady streak of drinking and hollering over each other.
“Nice t’meet you, I’m Mack,” he greeted, holding out a hand for her to take and shake. “Are you stayin’ awhile, Felicita?” It was an invitation of sorts, dressed as a casual question.
Another musician took the stage to make their noise, while the crowd around them continued their steady streak of drinking and hollering over each other.
Mack had a nice smile, Felicita decided. Drunken, certainly, but... it was cute. Genuine. She thought it felt like the kind of smile you could trust - the kind that wasn't trying to hide anything. Her own smile was a little smaller and more shy, but no less real.
"It's very lovely to meet you, Mack," Felicita took his hand, her soft fingers wrapping around his and gently shaking. "I - I think I might be staying a little while, now." There was something like a confession in that now: perhaps she had only been passing through before, but something had hooked her, and she wasn't ready to leave yet.
"Are you going to sing again, or are you done for the day?" she asked, after a quick glance at the stage and the newest musician taking their place. "I thought you sounded amazing."
"It's very lovely to meet you, Mack," Felicita took his hand, her soft fingers wrapping around his and gently shaking. "I - I think I might be staying a little while, now." There was something like a confession in that now: perhaps she had only been passing through before, but something had hooked her, and she wasn't ready to leave yet.
"Are you going to sing again, or are you done for the day?" she asked, after a quick glance at the stage and the newest musician taking their place. "I thought you sounded amazing."
Mack kept her hand a beat longer than what was considered socially acceptable. It was so soft, felt so nice and dainty in his own, much rougher hand. Where her fingers were slender and her palms silky, his fingers were calloused from plucking guitar strings and his knuckles a bit more gnarled, from having been broken and healed. He realized he was holding her hostage and immediately released the appendage.
“I think I only had the one set,” at least that’s all he remembered signing up for. He scratched the back of his head in passing thought, then stopped worrying about it. “Thanks, I’m glad you liked the show. I sing at the local dive bar too, on Thursday nights. Maybe I’ll cya around there?” He liked when girls liked his music. “Anyway, you kinda look familiar. What’d’y do? Or like is the ballerina-ing a full time gig? Maybe I’ve seen ya around… you don’t do crimes, do you?”
She didn’t look like she’d even pocketed a lip gloss before, but Mack had learned to not judge books too harshly for their titles, or whatever the saying was. “I do shifts at the local station,” said as if it were a pizza parlor and not a police station, and further said as if it were an explanation for the crime accusation.
“I think I only had the one set,” at least that’s all he remembered signing up for. He scratched the back of his head in passing thought, then stopped worrying about it. “Thanks, I’m glad you liked the show. I sing at the local dive bar too, on Thursday nights. Maybe I’ll cya around there?” He liked when girls liked his music. “Anyway, you kinda look familiar. What’d’y do? Or like is the ballerina-ing a full time gig? Maybe I’ve seen ya around… you don’t do crimes, do you?”
She didn’t look like she’d even pocketed a lip gloss before, but Mack had learned to not judge books too harshly for their titles, or whatever the saying was. “I do shifts at the local station,” said as if it were a pizza parlor and not a police station, and further said as if it were an explanation for the crime accusation.