3:32 p.m.
Paula set her fork down on her empty plate and managed a slight belch. She poured the last of the water into her glass and downed it in one gulp, rolling her head back and moaning theatrically.
Colin scowled, "Paula, don't. C'mon, we've had a great day. Let's not ruin it."
She shook her head, smiling as she pushed herself away from the table, "Don't start on me, please, Colin. Don't ruin everything."
She had a way of turning things around, trying to make him feel guilty. He heaved a sigh as he watched her make her way through the crowded resteraunt, skirting around busboys and little children. When she'd disappeared into the woman's restroom, he reached across the table and snatched her purse. She was always good for a couple bells or so. This time, though, her wallet was empty, which meant she expected him to pay for the meal. He thought of her in there, bent over the toilet with her hair held back in one hand and the other shoved in her mouth, forcing itself down her throat. He shook his head and pocketed a small silver bracelet, returning her purse to her side of the small, chipped table. Outside, the rain was coming down with such force he couldn't see two feet into the parking lot. Thunder roared overhead, and a few of the patrons let out nervous laughs.
"What the hell are you talking about, get your stinking paws off me!"
Colin frowned and looked toward the front of the long, rectangular room, where an elderly sow was standing by the cash register, two nervous-looking police officers on either side of her, talking to her in low voices. She, however, continued shrieking.
"I don't know nothing, get your stinking claws off me, I said-Hey! Hey, this asshole just stole my purse!"
The officer had grabbed for her arm, but had ended up with a handful of her heavy burlap bag. He looked sheepishly at his partner, who was older and obviously more seasoned. He seized her meaty arms and, as she screamed and stuggled against him, managed to slip a pair of dull metal handcuffs onto her wrists.
"Hey!" said someone from behind the counter, "What you doin' to poor old Joan? She never did nothing to nobody."
"She's under arrest for illegal price gouging and fraud. You're going to jail for a long time, hog. Get moving."
They had to practically drag her out of the restaurant, as she was still thrashing about, yelling obscenities. Colin couldn't help but laugh.
By the time Paula returned from the bathroom, the rain had let up a little, and Colin was standing up, putting on his coat and rifling through his pockets for some change he could leave the waitress. She smiled at him as she grabbed her own coat of the back of her chair, "What was all that screaming about? Sounded like someone being murdered out here."
He shrugged as they made their way towards the cash register, "Some old loony being carted away. Boy, the cops must really be bored out of their fucking skulls if they're going after people like that, I tell ya. C'mon, lets get out of here. The rain's letting up and I think we can make it to Lemon by sunset if we hurry."
Paula set her fork down on her empty plate and managed a slight belch. She poured the last of the water into her glass and downed it in one gulp, rolling her head back and moaning theatrically.
Colin scowled, "Paula, don't. C'mon, we've had a great day. Let's not ruin it."
She shook her head, smiling as she pushed herself away from the table, "Don't start on me, please, Colin. Don't ruin everything."
She had a way of turning things around, trying to make him feel guilty. He heaved a sigh as he watched her make her way through the crowded resteraunt, skirting around busboys and little children. When she'd disappeared into the woman's restroom, he reached across the table and snatched her purse. She was always good for a couple bells or so. This time, though, her wallet was empty, which meant she expected him to pay for the meal. He thought of her in there, bent over the toilet with her hair held back in one hand and the other shoved in her mouth, forcing itself down her throat. He shook his head and pocketed a small silver bracelet, returning her purse to her side of the small, chipped table. Outside, the rain was coming down with such force he couldn't see two feet into the parking lot. Thunder roared overhead, and a few of the patrons let out nervous laughs.
"What the hell are you talking about, get your stinking paws off me!"
Colin frowned and looked toward the front of the long, rectangular room, where an elderly sow was standing by the cash register, two nervous-looking police officers on either side of her, talking to her in low voices. She, however, continued shrieking.
"I don't know nothing, get your stinking claws off me, I said-Hey! Hey, this asshole just stole my purse!"
The officer had grabbed for her arm, but had ended up with a handful of her heavy burlap bag. He looked sheepishly at his partner, who was older and obviously more seasoned. He seized her meaty arms and, as she screamed and stuggled against him, managed to slip a pair of dull metal handcuffs onto her wrists.
"Hey!" said someone from behind the counter, "What you doin' to poor old Joan? She never did nothing to nobody."
"She's under arrest for illegal price gouging and fraud. You're going to jail for a long time, hog. Get moving."
They had to practically drag her out of the restaurant, as she was still thrashing about, yelling obscenities. Colin couldn't help but laugh.
By the time Paula returned from the bathroom, the rain had let up a little, and Colin was standing up, putting on his coat and rifling through his pockets for some change he could leave the waitress. She smiled at him as she grabbed her own coat of the back of her chair, "What was all that screaming about? Sounded like someone being murdered out here."
He shrugged as they made their way towards the cash register, "Some old loony being carted away. Boy, the cops must really be bored out of their fucking skulls if they're going after people like that, I tell ya. C'mon, lets get out of here. The rain's letting up and I think we can make it to Lemon by sunset if we hurry."
