Chapter 2: Dinner at Yokoso
The next day, I met up with Sarah, James, and Henri, as well as some of my other best friends, Alex Russo, Justin Evans, and Max Greenwald, and my mentor, Jenna Moser and her sister, Jill at Yokoso Japanese Steakhouse in the Waterfront. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "You guys will like this Japanese restaurant," Alex told us. "Well, I've certainly never been here before, so I certainly don't know what it's like, Alex," Sarah stated. "I guess that I am going to try something new." "We've eaten at lots of great restaurants this summer, Alex," I told my friend. "So far, we have eaten at a pizza restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, an Italian restaurant, and even a fast-food restaurant, Sarah," Alex stated. We all sat down at our table. "I guess this was like me going to middle school gym class for the first time," Sarah told Alex. "I felt insecure about changing clothes and exercising in front of the other girls." "Didn't you end up liking it later on?" Alex asked. "Of course I did, Alex," Sarah replied. "Sarah, every time I tried a new restaurant, I was not sure if I would like it or not," Alex reminded Sarah. "I was like that, too," I told everyone. "I felt the same way I felt when you started taking middle school gym class, Sarah, but I found out that trying new things can be fun, sometimes." I ordered chicken stir-fry, Jenna ordered shrimp stir-fry, Jill ordered tofu stir-fry, Sarah ordered hibachi chicken, James ordered hibachi New York strip steak, Henri ordered spicy crab salad and shrimp tempura, Alex ordered chicken and teriyaki salmon, Justin ordered New York strip steak and scallops, and Max ordered sunomono, which was a seafood cocktail, and miso soup. "You ordered scallops, Justin?" James asked. "Yes, James," Justin replied. "I have never tried scallops before," James stated. "They taste pretty good," Justin told James. "Is this your favorite restaurant, Max?" Henri asked. "It sure is, Henri," Max replied. "I've been here lots of times that I mainly just get the appetizers." "I know," Henri agreed. "Almost everything on the menu is pretty expensive, huh?" "That was a great walk you guys took me on," Jenna declared. "Where did you guys go to?" Jill asked. "We went to the Blue Slide Playground in Frick Park on Beechwood Boulevard," I told everyone. "That's cool," Jill stated. "I was also at the other Frick Park playground with Matt's younger sisters." I paused for a moment. "Speaking of which, Alex, I heard you don't like Frick Park anymore since your parents now live in Swissvale. Is that true?" "Yes, Angel," Alex replied. "They moved about a month ago." "Well, we like Frick Park more now since it is closer to our new apartment on Shady Avenue," Sarah declared. "The Blue Slide Playground is especially a classic." We soon got our meals. "I like this better than the food we ate at church, because it tasted almost exactly like what we had our senior year when Angel performed her first concert," Alex stated. "And, that's a bad thing... why?" I asked. "It wasn't bad," Alex stated. "We just have it every week, and your first concert was rather amazing, since Justin and I performed our first solos outside of high school band!" "That kind of explains the outfit you are wearing," Sarah remarked. "Yeah, I just bought this romper at the Monroeville Mall two weeks ago," Alex told us, "and I needed new wedge sandals since my other sandals with a heel were getting worn out." "I wish I could wear wedge sandals like you, Alex, but my right heel has been sore for quite a while now," I told Alex. After we got our checks, Jenna and Jill drove me back to Mom's apartment in Highland Park. "Thanks for a great dinner, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"
