Chapter 3: Picnic
Angel stood over a dirty picnic table and distributed paper plated to everyone.
"Help yourself," she told them, and sat down next to Collins.
Mimi reached over and pulled the top off of the bowl containing potato salad. Joanne helped her by opening the bag of paper cups, and then the sandwiches.
"Where are the chips?" Roger asked, reaching for the basket.
"More like, where are the drinks?" Mark scoffed.
Maureen laughed, "Your mouth still dry?" Mark glared at her.
"I don't even think Angel wears a bra," Collins chucked, handing his friend a can of soda. Mark nodded in thanks.
Joanne pulled a sandwich onto her plate, and placed one on her lover's.
"Thanks, Mom," Maureen rolled her eyes. She bit into it. "Wow," she said "who made these?"
"I did," Joanne said, looking at her sternly.
Maureen laughed. "They're really good, Pookie. What it is? Chicken salad?"
"They must be," Angel said, biting into hers, "they're heavenly!"
"You should know," Collins told her, kissing her on the neck.
Mimi scooped some potato salad onto her plate. Roger looked up at her from the bag of chips.
"Can you get me some, too?" he asked. She took his plate and scooped a glob onto one side. As she passed it back to him, the heavy side gave in and the salad plopped into his lap.
Maureen snorted, and Mimi tried to hold in giggles as she apologized.
"It's ok," Roger said sternly, I'll just go change into my suit now. I'll have to anyway." He got up, and dug through Mimi's beach bag. He found his trunks and set off toward the striped changing tents.
He came back moment later in a pair of dark red trunks. His jeans and shirt were rolled up in his hands.
"That feels much better," he said, "It's so much cooler."
Mimi sighed, wiping sweat off her brow. She looked down at the half-eaten sandwich and remains of potato salad stuck to her plate.
"I'm full," she announced, 'I'm going to change, too." She picked up her bag and turned to Maureen and Joanne. "You guys coming?"
Maureen stood up. "Of course!" she said, "Race you there!" Mimi dropped her bag in the sand, and took off running with the drama queen behind. Joanne sighed and picked up both beach bags.
"Wait," Mark said, and began to dig through Mimi's bag. He pulled out a wad of clothes, and looked up into Joanne's eyes. "I'll change in a second, too," he said, smiling slightly. Joanne walked off, following her lover, and Mark sat back down. He gulped his soda.
"You two go change, too," Roger said to Collins and Angel, "We'll clean up."
"You sure?" He asked.
"Yeah," Mark told him.
The two picked up their beach bad and headed off it eh same direction as everyone else. Every red-and-white striped tent was occupied, and there was someone in line at almost every one. Collins and Angel went and stood in front of two empty ones. A man walked out from the tent Collins was waiting for, and he reached in the bag. After pulling out his trunks, he went into the changing room.
Moments later, a large, muscled man came and stood behind Angel.
"Hi, there," the large man said to her, "How are you on this fine day?"
"Just fine," she answered gingerly, picking up on his flirting, "but I'm so hot!"
He grinned. "I'll agree with that one." Angel smiled coyly, and a woman left the tent that she was in line for.
"Well," she said to him, and she stepped into the tent.
Collins came out of his tent, dressed in a pair of black trunks with red, green, and yellow stripes on the sides. "You in there, Angel?" he called.
"Yeah, baby," she called back, "Just a second."
"No hurry."
The large man turned to Collins, and smiled. "You've got yourself a looker," he told the anarchist.
Collins grinned. "Yeah, I know," he said, "Thanks."
"Baby?" Angel called back out.
"Yeah? You done?"
"Uh-huh," she paused, "but don't make fun of my suit. Mimi picked it out, and I think it's tacky."
"Never," Collins told her, "you look good in everything."
Angel pulled back the curtain and stepped out of the tent. Before, she wore a dark green skirt and light green tights, with her white blouse and large, chunky shoes. Now, he stood before them in nothing but a pair of white trunks with large yellow Hawaiian-style flowers all over it.
"I love it!" Collins told her. He grinned and picked up her beach bag. As he stuffed her lover's clothed into it, the large man turned to them.
"Did you just…" he asked Angel, "Are you…"
"Oh, yeah, honey," he said, "I'm done. Go on ahead."
Collins took his hands and they walked back towards the picnic table. Angel tuned around and looked at the awestruck man. He waved to him with one finger-nail-painted pinky wave.