Soul Mates
Dinner
"Dad!" I yell as we walk up to the restaurant
"There you are, I was beginning to worry you got lost."
"Not possible with someone who lives here."
"Hello sir," Andy says extending his hand to shake my dads
"So you must be Andrew" my father returns the handshake
"Yes, but I go by Andy."
"Andy, shall we go eat?"
"Yes." I say hoping to move this along
"Hello sir, your usual table?" says the man behind the podium
"Hello Charles, yes, but for three today." my father answers
We are seated and for some reason I feel like Andy is out of place...
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Usual table? How often does he dine here? The host seats us and as I look around I am getting really anxious. I do not do well with crowds, and I am beginning to see I do not belong here.
"Get anything you would like Andy" her father says from behind his menu
I look at the menu and the cheapest thing is a salad at almost ten dollars! This is crazy! I wouldn't be here even if my parents were paying for me. What do I order?
"Hey," Allison whispers to me, "are you okay?"
"Um... this stuff is expensive." I whisper back, trying to not to get her fathers attention
"It's not that bad, I've been to steeper places." she smiles
What! A place with salad for more than ten dollars! I clearly DO NOT belong here! I feel my pulse quicken and my palms sweat. Man do I need a cigarette.
"Are you ready to order?" says a waitress
"I am what about you two?" her father says confidently
"I will have the grilled chicken salad with light ranch on the side please, and a sweet tea."
"I will have the shrimp and steak dinner, medium rare, and can I sub the fries for onion rings? With a coke."
"Dad, you diet..." Allison eyes her father
"What your mother doesn't know won't hurt her."
"And for you hun?"
Oh shit um.....
"What do you suggest?"
"Well I had the luxury of trying a burger before shift and they are juicy tonight."
I look at the burgers, thirty dollars! Oh um....
"Sure, the works. Um.... and a water." I say nervously
"Fries okay for your side?"
Upgrade: $5+ Um... yea!
"Yes."
"I will be back."
Thank God that is over...
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Andy is nervous and dad hasn't even begun asking questions yet. My father excuses himself to take a phone call and I use this time to ask him what is wrong.
"Andy?"
He looks at me, but his leg is still shaking.
"What is the matter sweetie?"
"Nothing,"
"Andy..." I say, concern laced in my voice
"Just, I... I don't belong here."
"What do you mean? Andy just because this place is expensive does not mean you do not belong here."
"That is exactly why."
"Andy I can't afford places like this either, that is why I enjoy when my father comes out to L.A. and brings me or the family with."
"What are you talking about?"
"Babe, my father gets bonuses, BIG bonuses when he comes out to L.A. he doesn't always need all of it so it's when we get to splurge."
"So you are telling me that your family isn't rich?"
"No, we are above average. but no where near rich."
I feel him breath but his leg keeps shaking.
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, don't be afraid to tell me when you are not comfortable, I am here for you. You were destined for me, so you are kind of stuck with me."
We laugh and my father comes back to the table.
