I'm so sorry for the long wait! I couldn't figure out what to write. That's what I get for not planning ahead. Enjoy!
"Have you ever been to Sardi's Mark?" Leo asked.
Mark cringed. It sounded fancy. "No," he said quietly, "Have you ever been to the Life Café?"
"I can't say I have," Leo said, "Is it any good?"
"It's okay, but it's the best a bohemian can do," Mark answered casually.
Leo gave him a quizzical look. "Um, well then, let's go there I guess. I think I'd like to try this bohemian café."
Break Here"Can I have a veggie burger with bacon, fries and a strawberry milkshake?" Mark asked.
The waiter nodded and jotted down his order. "And for you?"
"Um," Leo said hesitantly, "I think I'll have…the same thing."
The waiter rolled his eyes before writing down Leo's order and walking off.
"So filthy rich Broadway producers eat veggie burgers and fries and milkshakes?" Mark asked, "A.k.a. junk food? I thought you guys were into shrimp cocktails and wine and lobster."
Leo smiled. "Mark, there's a lot to learn about the producing world," he said, "First off, that stuff is nice, but sometimes you just can't beet junk food. I haven't had a burger of any kind since I became a producer a few years ago and I figured it was time to get back into old, good habits."
"Yeah well," Mark said, "I'm just glad to have a burger. Of course, beggars can't be choosers."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, out of my seven friends only about three of us have jobs. And one isn't really a good one. And Angel's hit money is dwindling down."
"Hit money?"
Mark blushed. "Oh, it's nothing."
Just then the waiter arrived with the food. "Two veggie burgers with bacon, fries and two strawberry milkshakes." He recited before putting down the plates in front of Leo and Mark.
Before either took a bite out of their food, they heard a shrill voice yell, "Mark! Marky! Pookie, it's me!"
Mark rolled his eyes and said, "Hi Maureen."
"Who's your friend?" she asked, pouting her lips.
"Oh, Maureen, this is Leopold Bloom, my great-uncle's business partner," Mark said, "Leo, this is my ex-girlfriend and old roommate Maureen Johnson."
"Nice to meet you," Leo said, standing up and extending his hand.
But instead of the expected handshake, Leo got a big hug.
"Handshakes!" Maureen exclaimed, "So impersonal! Come on, loosen up Bloomsie-boy! You're like family!"
"Family?" Leo asked, his eyes wide.
"Yeah," Mark answered, "Friendship is thicker than blood. Leo, you're our friend. You're family. Great-Uncle Max is the first time I've seen my family in the flesh in probably five years. My friends are my family."
"Yes, but, I'm married!" Leo exclaimed, "What would my wife think is she saw this?"
"Married?" Maureen said, pulling away, "No one ever said anything about that. I mean, the only one of our friends who's married is…"
"Benny." Mark finished, disgust in his voice, "Leo, you said I had a lot to learn about the producing world. Well, you have a lot to learn about the bohemian world. Maureen, it's been nice seeing you, but Leo and I have to finish up lunch so I can take him on a tour of Bohemia."