Chapter 2: A Trip to the South Side
One warm Saturday morning in May 2017, I took the bus to the South Side with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri. We decided to go to the comic book store, then to get a treat from the Milkshake Factory, and finally, to the Riverfront Park. I already had a treat for Sarah, James, and Henri: cupcakes, which we ate once we got off the bus. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Thanks for the cupcakes! They were really yummy." "You're welcome," I replied. "Isn't the South Side a nice area?" James asked. "Yes, but my parents have told me that there were numerous issues here, like people getting shot," I told him. "Yeah, I heard about that, too," Henri agreed. "So, do you want to go to South Side Comics first?" I asked. "Sure," James replied. "I can't wait to see what they have." We went inside and looked at all the action figures, comic books, graphic novels, and other toys. "Look, Archie comics!" James exclaimed. "It seems like Jughead is learning how to play baseball." He paused for a second. "Speaking of baseball, I remember the baseball game at my high school that I took Sarah and Angel to," James continued. "Isn't there a Pirates game tonight that we can go to?" "The trouble is, we don't have tickets," I told him. "I thought about going to a Pirates game for my birthday, but I found something better that I would like to go to here on the South Side," James explained. "What is that, James?" I asked him. "You'll see." "Let's go to the Milkshake Factory," Henri stated, "after I buy this new Spiderman comic book and Batman plush to add to my collection." "The Milkshake Factory?" Sarah asked. "I hate to see this, but I don't drink milkshakes very often. I think Angel's cupcakes that she baked for us were much tastier and healthier." "That's because I use a special recipe to make them," I explained. Once Henri purchased his merchandise, we went to the Milkshake Factory. "It feels hot and humid out," Sarah stated. "That's why it's a perfect day to get a milkshake," James stated. "No offense, but I don't like milkshakes, James," Sarah told James. "Neither do I," I agreed, "and I am trying to lose weight." We all went into the Milkshake Factory and looked at their menu. Sarah and I decided to split a s'more sundae. James ordered a brownie fudge milkshake. Henri ordered a cookies n' cream milkshake. "Want to go outside and drink our milkshakes?" James offered. "Sure," I replied. "It's too warm outside," Sarah complained. "This past week was too hot, too. It makes me wonder if this summer will be a repeat of last year when it was hot and humid almost every day." "I would love a repeat of last summer," James disagreed. "It reminded me of the summers that you worked as a camp counselor at Allegheny YMCA," I told him. "2010, 2011, and 2012 due to a sustained La Nina and cold Pacific Decadal Oscillation in the Pacific Ocean, which, unfortunately, we don't have this year." "It seems like May hot spells are getting more and more common nowadays," Sarah stated. "Especially one day when we were kids and it hit 90 degrees in May. I couldn't even concentrate on my geography homework and had to keep running the air conditioner since it was so hot outside." "That reminds me," Henri stated. "James, can you purchase us all some lemonade as a reminder of what we sold?" "I don't want any lemonade," Sarah disagreed. "I just want a glass of water." "Sarah, my stepmom thinks that I am fat and look horrible in a bathing suit," I told her. "Oh, I wouldn't say that, Angel," Sarah disagreed. "You should just worry about eating healthy anyway, no matter what you look like." Pretty soon, we got our treats and went outside. Sarah and I each got a spoon to split our sundae. "Mmm, this is yummy!" I remarked. "Uh-huh," Sarah agreed. "I just don't want to get hot fudge on this dress." "Me neither," I agreed, "since this is a brand new one." "This dress I have had ever since I was a teenager," Sarah explained. "And the same one you wore on the hot day in May," I observed. "Yep," Sarah agreed. James took pictures of our treats before we left for the park. "If there were a Chinese restaurant in the South Side, I would totally be up for Chinese food like we had for dinner during the May heat wave," Henri declared. "That would be nice if I didn't have to go back and eat lunch with my new friends, Emily and Erin Mistle," I told everyone. "You can meet them next weekend!" "Okay," Sarah agreed. "Do you remember when it was too hot for us to even sleep during the hot spell?" James asked. "That's what I hate," Sarah replied. "During summer heat waves, you cannot even sleep well, and my air conditioner was already about to break from using it so much during the day." We arrived at the Riverfront Park and realized that we could see a view of the Parkway East, as well as a shopping cart in the lake, which I took pictures of. James took a picture of all of us together by a sculpture at the park. Pretty soon, it was time for us to walk back to the bus stop on East Carson Street and 28th Street. "Thanks for a great morning, guys!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"
