I was at the grocery store in the vegetable section of the produce section when I saw a beautiful brunette my age picking up a peach from the fruit section and smelling it. She closed her eyes absorbing it. There was something off about her and also familiar. A customer passed her and she jumped slightly withdrew. She mouthed something maybe muttering to herself. I then looked down at the potatos. I thought id have a baked potato for dinner or maybe make 3 one for each of my 3 roommates. I decided I'd pick up onions too.

The girl walked over to me.

"hi um excuse me," she began quietly.

I looked up and - "yes?" I asked.

into the brown eyes of Miranda.

"omygod Miranda," I said.

"lizzie?" she asked surprised: "what are you doing here? I mean obviously shopping. Um. Wow."

I smiled: "yeah I know what a kick huh?"

"yeah. Um I'd love to catch up whenever you're not busy."

"yeah after grocery shopping let's get some coffee."

"ok."

It had been years since I'd seen Miranda. Or Kate. Or Claire. I certainly hadn't expected to run into Miranda at the store.

I spent awhile looking for groceries then purchased them. Then I went to the café where Miranda was waiting.

"hi what do you want?" I asked her getting in line beside her.

She looked at me surprised: "you're buying?"

"yeah of course."

"um wow ok. You really haven't changed that much."

"well I have and I haven't."

She told me what she wanted. I bought the items then we sat down.

"so I'm in college now. Actually that's who I'm shopping for myself and my 3 roommates. We're having potatos for dinner. The college is downtown. And you?" I asked her.

"I live actually just up the street. In my own place. I tried college but it wasn't for me," she replied.

"oh. Any kids? How are your sisters?"

"they're taking care of my kids untill I get my life back together though I don't know when that'll be. W/ the way things keep happening at the rate they are…."

"oh. How's your mom?"

"she's ok. My dad moved to mexico away from us. Kate's dad is still there. Are you and david still close?" she asked.

"yeah."

"oh. How's your mom?"

"she's ok still dealing w/ matt."

"wow. Guess he hasn't recovered. Well I mean obviously he hasn't but um….not like kate who knows how many kids she has."

"have you seen kate lately? Or Claire?"

"yeah I saw them just the other day around here. By the liquor store actually."

I knew which one she meant.

"I'd love to not have responsibilities. Instead of all these classes and stuff," I said.

"no I know. Everyone would."

"I'd love to see your place sometime," I told her.

"is now ok?"

"yeah but I have dance at 5, so."

"ok um."

"oh we can walk it's not far," Miranda told me: "thanks for the coffee."

"sure."

"and then after we'll come get your groceries."

"ok."

We stood and left the store.

"it's so good to see you," Miranda told me: "I've been wondering how you were doing."

"yeah you too. And me too."

Once we were a few ft away from the store I asked Miranda "so how many kids do you have?"

"well I had 2. 3 actually one's .here."

"oh."

"yeah dad's come back. And so has kate's dad. My sisters and mom are taking care of the one."

"oh right," I said remembering.

In the Mexican culture the generations sometimes lived together.

"do you smoke?" Miranda asked me.

"what like trees?"

"yeah."

"oh. Yeah and I drink too."

"ok. Yeah me too. There's a bar right by my place if you ever want to go."

"yeah ok maybe. You living w/ anyone?"

"no."

"oh."

"I never told you about high school did I? er what happened then."

"no no you didn't."

"well maybe some day I will. I should really give you my number."

"yeah ok and I'll give you mine."