The food festival returned. The main street was blocked off, and there were few parking spots. But we got there eventually.

Derek Takahata and I sat in the back seats, so Karu Hajji could take the passenger seat to save himself from travel sickness. He practically squashed me to make his own room. But once we left the car, he stretched and got comfortable in the open.

Not for long.

The festival was now the most packed I'd seen anywhere, after what someone called The Backstreet Boys Reunion died down in the state. There was music to accompany whatever we'd eat, and there were circus performers closer to the bookstore.

Derek looked like a human. He blended in with his black eyes and black hair, and a height similar to mine. His stare went for miles, however. Karu, on the other hand, stood out among the crowd with his seven foot stance, his high pony like a waterfall, and his glowing yellow eyes.

Derek sniffed the air. "Curry."

"Mmm, spicy goodness!" I added.

"If it smells this good, I hope it's worth waiting two hours for food." Karu naturally walked slower for us to keep up. He also dodged those passing us.

When I met Karu, he was a bright orb of light, and his upbringing could be hard at times. Not that he caused trouble.

"What's adobo?" Derek asked over the music.

"It's delicious," I answered. "Not quite honey soy, but I might be lying; it's been ages since I tried any."

"Why does music have to be so loud?" Karu asked. "I can't hear a thing."

I turned my head to the end of the street, which was a few feet away from the stand where we lined up. In front of the barricades were tall speakers. "We're destroying our cochlears just standing here."

"Destroying our what?"

Derek snickered. "Can you repeat that?"

It was too late. We made it to the front of the line, and Derek and I ordered our adobo dishes. Karu ordered chicken as he was allergic to pork.

"How long has it been since the last one?" Karu asked. "It feels like forever."

"The girls weren't even born," I answered. "I remember having a paella and Phoenix hunched over in pain just watching."

"What kind of event is this, anyway?" Derek asked. He never joined us before. At the time, he had better things to do.

"It's supposed to be monthly and centred around a cultural theme," I explained.

Karu turned his head and squinted. "Isn't there a whole dining district right next to this?"

"Now that you say it, that sounds counterproductive." I sighed, and focused on my dish.

"Not so much," said Derek. "Are they part of the festival?"

"If that barricade's worth anything, no, they're not," I said. "See? It's a waste of space from the get-go. Only food succeeds here and everyone else's rent is hiked."

Derek clicked his tongue. "Isn't that the way of the world."

###

We finished dinner, and walked to the other end, where we found a plaza that right the next street over. But that wasn't what I wanted to show. There was a doorway blocked by plywood, and the plywood had graffiti over it.

"That used to be a Red Rooster," I said. "And a bunch of other stuff. Most of the stores down this end have been closed for years."

Derek had no words. His brow furrowed.