Lady Une, her charge, and the three young men left the games area behind and began to head for the food court where they were to meet up with Catherine, Relena, Quatre, and Wufei. They found their companions sitting at a table laden with different foods ranging from pizza to honey chicken and rice, tucked into a nook in the shape of a circle. The table was a circle as well and the benches backed and covered with soft material. Candles were placed in crannies and there were enough to light the entire small area. The nook opened to show the center of the room, allowing a clear view of what could be used as a stage. "How much did you spend," asked Lady Une. The amount of food was positively staggering.
Relena took in Lady Une's shocked expression and laughed. "About thirty-nine ninety-five since we didn't actually buy an entire meal." As the boys came forward carrying an assorted color of bears, Relena as well as Catherine's eyes went wide and they both found themselves smothering laughs. Wufei raised a brow and Quatre moved forward to take at least two of the bears and put them on his side of the table. Mariameia was carrying a green bear, completely dwarfed by the thing. The only part of her showing was her legs and the very bottom of her shorts. "They're mine," she called. Catherine took the bear and Mariameia sat beside her.
"So," Catherine asked, "What would you like to eat? We have an almost ridiculous variety to choose from." Predictably, Mariameia chose pizza and asked for two slices, one pepperoni and the other cheese. Duo joined her in her little pizza fest, both of them holding a mock-serious discussion on which was best: pepperoni or just plain cheese and the merits of both.
Listening with only half an ear, Relena took on of the small pastry chicken pockets and was delighted to find inside not only chicken, but parmesan seasoned with oregano and bits of ham. Lady Une began to enjoy a confetti cheese salad with bar-b-que ribs, which seemed odd to some, but they didn't feel the need to comment. Quatre joined Wufei in his feast of honeyed chicken, jasmine rice, and shrimp egg rolls. Fried chicken and with a potato covered in cheese, sour cream and bacon bits went to appeasing Catherine and Trowa, while Heero settled for a large bowl of simple beef ramen, which he ate with the chopsticks that had been set by the bowl.
As they ate, Duo continued to keep Mariameia entertained and talkative, while Catherine, Trowa, and Quatre inquired about Relena's rather extensive workings. Lady Une did not participate in the discussion but she listened intently. Wufei and Heero preferred to eat quietly and listen, without really paying too much attention.
The waiter, a slender man of 35 came by every fifteen minutes and discreetly took away dirty plates and refilled glasses. When all the dishes were cleared off, and as the man was setting out left over containers, Relena asked their server something that had been on her mind, "Why do you have such a wide selection of food?"
The waiter grinned. "A few years ago, we could only afford to have a small selection of food, and the owner decided that since we get so many nationalities, the type and variety of fare we were serving was not up to par. So, she hired teachers and had our cooks learn how to cook a wide variety of foods. This became a popular idea and people soon stopped bringing their own dinners, which is, sadly, why the Picnic Park had to be closed. As we received more business, we were able to broaden our selection and please more people who wanted to either eat the food they normally like at home or try new things."
"I see. Then here's another if you don't mind?" At his nod, she continued. "We ordered a lot of different foods and in various amounts. Do you just make a lot of food, and then keep it warm throughout the day? Or do you take the order and then down size the amount made? And how many people actually cook? Do they meet safety requirements?" Relena was curious to see how such a large operation could be run so smoothly.
The man laughed. "We can't make the food and keep it heated because too many orders come in. We make the food continuously in large amounts, and then give the desired amount that was ordered. The smaller things, such as pizza, chicken pockets, egg rolls and soup are easy to give in small quantities. We have 46 staff in the kitchens, and 7 of them handle desserts. Three of the desert staff have been trained and twelve of the other staff as well. However, all of them have passed the health inspections and exams."
"Thanks for taking the time to explain, and please, have a good night" Relena smiled benignly at the man.
He smiled back, wished her a good night, and went to his other assigned table. "Takes a lot of time, people, and commitment to run a circus this big," Catherine commented. "I'm impressed."
Duo leaned back in his chair. "Cool. So, we've seen and eaten as much as we can without burning up too much credit. What do we do now?"
"I don't know," Quatre said thoughtfully. "I really don't feel like getting up and finding all the things we haven't seen and I'd say that if Mariameia walks too much more, she'll fall asleep standing." Mariameia smiled sleepily at Quatre, both of her arms around one of Lady Une's.
Heero opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted as the crowd began to clap for a small group of people. Six were dressed the same in the stereotypical reporter's way, while a seventh reporter was dressed in brighter clothes, helping in the effort to draw more attention to himself. He was standing by a man with a baseball cap on his head obviously a coach of some sort, wearing a jacket with the sleeves rolled up, arms crossed, and noticeably chewing gum. The six less noticeable reporters had brought folding chairs with them, and were setting them up and taking seats, leaning forward in their chairs and looking anxious, pencils poised expectantly over pads of yellow paper. The bright reporter has a recorder and is leaning toward the man in the cap. They begin:
The coach, ticking of players with his fingers says, "On the Saint Lois. Team we have Whose on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third..." The flashy reporter interrupts him in mid sentence.
"That's what I wantah find out. I want you to tell me the names of the fellas on the St. Lois Team?
"I'm, I'm tell'en ya." Again the coach counts on his fingers. "Whose on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third."
"Do you know the fellows names?"
"Yes."
"Well then who's playing first?"
"Yes."
"I mean the fellow's name on first base."
"Who."
"The fellow playing first base for the St. Lois."
"Who."
"The guy on first base."
"Who is on first."
People in the audience slowly began to laugh, understanding the joke and curious to see how the skit would turn out.
The reporter is now obviously very confused. "Well, what are you asking me for?"
The coach replies decisively, "I'm not asking ya, I'm tell'en ya, Who is on first."
"I'm asking YOU, who's on first!"
"That's the man's name."
"That's whose name?"
"Yes."
"Well go ahead and tell me."
"Who."
Louder:
"The guy on first."
"Who."
Louder:
"The First Baseman!"
"Who is on first!"
Louder:
"Have you got a first baseman on first?"
"Certainly."
"Than who is playing first?"
"Absolutely."
A small chuckle goes through the group of reporters and is echoed through the audience.
"When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?"
With conviction, "Every dollar of it. And why not? They man'sentitled to it."
"Who is?"
"Yes."
"So who gets it?"
"Why shouldn't he? Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it."
"Whose wife?"
"Yes."
The reporter presses a hand to his head and makes and exaggerated noise.
Tucking his thumbs into is pockets, the coach continues. "After all, the man earns it."
"Who does?"
"Absolutely!"
"Well, all I'm trying to find out is what's the guy's name on first base."
"No, no, no, What is on second base."
Louder:
"I'm not asking ya who's on second!"
"Who's on first."
"That's what I'm trying to find out!"
The little drama unfolded, with the reporter and coach yelling and running through the names of the rest of the team. Each name was as confusing as Who's name, names like Today and Why. The customers were laughing hard before the even half of the performance ended with:
Reporter: And I don't care!"
"What was that?"
"I said I don't care!"
"Ohh, that's our short stop!"
The reporter throws his recorder to the ground and goes into a short temper tantrum. They all freeze and this marks the end of the act. Everybody clapped and a hat was passed around for tips, the reporters and coach cleaning up their set. After placing a tip into the hat, the gundam crew stood and headed for the exit to the court. Lady Une carried Mariameia, though the girl weakly complained that she could walk by herself. The guys and Catherine carried the bears. The crowd was thinning, though the circus would be open until one. In the parking lot, Quatre went to get the vehicle while everyone else waited.
Thirty minutes ago...
Diolyn slipped into her non-descript street clothes and pulled a cap over her braided and coiled hair, only three inches visible hanging down. Her t-shirt was loose and her baggy jeans had to be held up with a belt. Looking into her long mirror, she noted that if someone had to guess her weight, they'd go about fifteen pounds too heavy. Good.
Zarinthia walked in and with her usual lack of beating around the bush, began her lecture. "Don't be an idiot. If it doesn't fit easily into the truck, don't take it. If the software's too new, don't take it. Make sure they can't track parts to you. Take out surveillance cameras before they see you. Do not leave any of your team behind, don't get yourself left behind. Be safe and return in two hours, or no pizza for you. Be safe dear." Zarinthia reached for her daughter and kissed her forehead. "Good luck. Remember, two hours."
Diolyn grinned and squeezed her mother's arm. "Save me a whole pizza, with extra cheese, thank you." She ran down the stairs and signaled for her team to start moving. The went out into the parking lot, excited and young, ready go do what they did best.
Zarinthia sighed, missing the old days, when Diolyn had been younger and her little girl, even if they had been hard.