Chapter 3: Dinner at Ritter's
One hot final Saturday of July 2024, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri as well as some of my other childhood friends, Carly Shay and Spencer Puckett, as well as Carly's stepdad, Freddie Benson, at Ritter's Diner for a happy hour. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. We jammed out to Kate Bush and NSYNC prior to dinner. "I have heard a lot of good things about this diner, Mr. Benson," Henri proudly stated. "I don't know what I want to eat yet." "I don't know what I want to eat, either, Henri," Mr. Benson pointed out. "Everything here looks so good!" "I think that it is good to treat yourself to a day off and just go out to a new restaurant sometimes," James stated. "We have learned so much at this job before we return to work next week. I still would like to learn how to juggle balls in the air, Spencer." "I agree, James," Spencer agreed. "I would have loved to try new foods heading into my sophomore year of high school." "Do you prefer savory or sweet, Carly?" Sarah asked. "Obviously sweet, Sarah," Carly replied. "Well, I prefer savory," Sarah stated. "What did you guys think of the dual Childhood Chat yesterday in Hampton Township, the western suburbs, the southern suburbs, and McCandless Township?" I asked. "I thought it was cool," Sarah replied. "Allison Brawner, Julia Robison, Jennifer Preager, and Abigail Mifflin were a lot like me." "And, Lauren Bennett, Grace Luster, Ashley Cassoin, and Kayla Jennis were a lot like me," Carly added. "Since Lauren and Grace won, some of my favorite sweets include apple pie, fruit salad, cannoli, ice cream, cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and pudding." "Wow, that's a lot of sugar, Carly!" I remarked. "We all know that Grace has been partially like you these past few months due to the weather, Carly, but Lauren also plays the clarinet in band, just like you used to play during your first few years of high school." "As for me, I like to eat chicken nuggets and tenders, tacos, mozzarella sticks, and cheeseburgers with bacon on top." "Not every day, I hope," I told Sarah. "Of course not, Angel! As a matter of fact, I am in the mood for their chicken tenders tonight." "I am going to have spaghetti and meatballs with apple pie a la mode for dessert," Carly stated. "Jennifer Preager and Abigail Mifflin are 2 Chatham University chicks," I pointed out. "You guys should have gone there for college!" "Well, we felt that Carnegie Mellon University was the right choice for us, Angel," Sarah told me. After we finished and paid for our dinners, it was time for all of us to go home. "Thanks for a great dinner, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"