11-1-05
They walked into the taco place like any normal night. The sky glowed velvet blue in the light of millions of stars. Tonight, the sky drowned out the city lights and shone out in all its nocturnal glory.
Linoleum floors squeaked underfoot, sticking to the pair's shoes, struggling to keep them rooted to the spot. Fluorescent lights bleached what little color was left out of their skin. The elder, a tall, emaciated man with dark hair, grimaced at the sight of unwashed tables and grubby patrons. The younger, a teenaged girl, also dark-haired, gave his hand a sympathetic squeeze and made her way to the front counter.
"Two tacos and two medium soft drinks, please," she chirped when her turn came.
"What KIND of taco, idiot?" grunted the kid behind the register.
"Regular tacos. Hard shell for both, please. How much does it come to?"
"Four bucks even."
She handed over the money and skirted a group of people to stand at the end of the counter. In a few minutes, a white-hot tray and two tacos slid over to her. Two drink cups clattered after, and she just barely caught them before they hit the disgusting floor.
"Food's here," she called cheerily. "Let's go find a place to sit, Nny."
Nny and the girl made their way to the back of the room, settling into a booth in the corner. They fetched their drinks, then sat down to eat their meals in silence.
A group of unruly teenagers crashed into the booth in front of them. Their looks of open scorn set Nny on edge, but his companion's disapproving look made him restrain himself. For the moment, anyway.
"What the hell kinda wacky freak are you, man?" asked one teenager.
Nny bristled. "What did you say?"
"You heard me. Is your daughter there taken? She's a pretty little bitch."
"Well, after she washes that dirt off her face," sneered one of the boy's companions.
"Yo, those Goths are some wacky shit, man," slurred another.
Nny clutched a spork tightly, rising.
"Nny, sit down," hissed his companion.
"Annette, those pricks don't have any right to-"
"I'll take care of it."
Annette smiled and turned around. "Cool it, jackasses," she snorted. "Just because you're all inbred pricks, it doesn't give you license to point out other's differences. Go play your infantile games somewhere else before you make me gag."
The boys stared at her, open-mouthed, for a long time. Then, miraculously, they stood and left. A wallet and an ipod were left behind, which Annette quickly snapped up.
"Ben and the others taught me loads of new words to use against the ignorant pricks!" she announced brightly to a bewildered Nny.
"But you didn't even have to rip their eyes out…" was all he could manage.
"Mon pere, sometimes the best injury is a psychological one," replied Annette. "Now let's go see a movie. I heard there's a new horror flick playing at the Indie movie house."
Nny thought for a moment, then stood and followed his daughter out the door. The patrons of the taco place never knew how close they'd come to death that night.
Perhaps it's for the best.