Priss drew up her bike alongside the curb next to the queue outside of KFC just as Nene and Linna emerged, hands and arms full of big red and white buckets and containers.
"Nice," Priss said. It wasn't often, or at all, that she gave out compliments, moreso where Nene was concerned.
"Priss, hi," Linna sighed.
"Just in time, Priss. We need to get dinner back to Sylia's before it gets cold!" Nene commanded.
The singer's tummy grumbled. The site and smell was salivating.
"Hop on. Give Linna the bread and whats not hot."
"Hey, what?" Linna interjected, she thought they were going to ride back together.
Nene exchanged packages before Linna knew what was happening and handed the buckets over to Priss to shield with her arms and body.
"Hurry up, Linna, or you'll miss out."
"Priss-"
But they were gone already.
"Damnit." Linna swore. Her scooter was a block away and all the food and drink was heavy. It would take ages puttering along under the weight to reach Sylia's place.
Grumbling she turned on her heels, new ankle boots she'd wanting to show off, and made haste to the parking bay where her little scooter sat.
xmas
Nigel and Mackey came down from the rooftop.
"All set," Nigel said. He opened the fridge and took out a long beer. "Want one?" he asked Mackey.
"I don't know if I'm allowed," Mackey replied.
"You'll handle it," Nigel meant, without saying, that Mackey was a boomer and alcohol wouldn't effect him, and despite his physical-age appearance, the boy was well old enough.
"Uh, maybe later."
Nigel shrugged and closed the fridge.
"Why is Henderson cooking?" Mackey looked into the oven, "Isn't Nene bringing everything for dinner?"
"Sylia."
Nigel opened the beer against the granite bench top. "How are you and Nene doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well enough, then."
"They should be here soon, I'll go downstairs and wait."
Mackey left. Nigel smiled.
"Well, then."
Good for them.
xmas
Linna finally made it. She parked her scooter next to Priss' bike, rubbed her sore butt. Far too long and bumpy a ride. She looked up, the top of the Silky Doll was brightly lit: green, red, blue and yellow.
"They better not have started without me!" she muttered.
The doors opened for her and she rode the elevator all the way to the roof. Everyone was up there standing by the pool taking and laughing.
"Here she is," Sylia waved.
"Finally, let's get started!" Nene said. She directed Linna over to a long table covered in a plastic Christmas themed table cover. The chicken buckets were in a heap under the table, the fried chicken in heat retaining containers. Linna dumped her load and like a swooping vulture, Priss had elbowed in and started loading up her plate.
"I'm starving!"
Nene, Nigel and Mackey joined in.
"Good work Nene, nice to have a change." Nigel said.
Sylia sided up to Linna. "Let's wait for the buzzards to clear first," then in a low conspiratorial whisper, "I have an alternative."
Linna nodded, not quite hearing what Sylia said or meant. She was hungry too, she'd even eat non-traditional mass fried chicken to satisfy it.
Everyone settled back into chairs and took the moment to relax and eat in finger-smacking silence. Nene and Mackey were next to each other, Sylia and Nigel, Henderson sort of in between both pairs, and Linna and Priss. The sound of the city stayed a level away letting the companions eat in gathered familiarity.
The ache in Linna's butt went away. Sylia let herself consume a drumstick and indulge in wiping up potato and gravy with a whiter-than-white bread bun. Priss and Nene had an involuntary eating competition. The others watched as they piled up the bones.
And then Henderson's oven timer beeped; and everyone knew what that was.
