A Nice Dinner

By Livi ania

Between the little time we've had rushing between school and driving school; my sister and I have lived off soup and McDonald's for the past week and a half. This particular diet was getting a bit old (we were in danger of scurvy), and we were in the mood for something a little.fancier.

Captain D's. Long John Silver's with a slightly different décor.

It was a mutual decision, as I was craving a nice dessert (A fish place with four dessert choices-what more can you ask for?) and my sister was craving their wickedly spicy stuffed peppers, full of cheddar and jalapeno bits (Another amazing thing: they can make jalapenos taste hot.).

Thus it was we ordered! A fish and fries for each of us (two fish fillets, two hushpuppies, and a whole bunch of fries), an order of stuffed peppers for her and a slice of chocolate cake for me. We were going to get our well-deserved nice dinner.

We took our tray of wonderfully aromatic food, and slid into a clean booth.

Now, it should be noticed here that there is only one other customer in the entire restaurant, and she is sitting in a completely different seating area so both parties are utterly secluded from each other, as from the employees who are all in front semi-toiling (semi for the fact there are basically no customers).

I started the meal by stealing one of my sister's ever so delicious peppers, and we both started chowing down on our first fish fillet, when BOOM! The respectable-sized restaurant is rocked, and the speakers playing has-been muzak songs suddenly stop and the silence is oppressive, except the sound of us munching with gusto.

Well, and the sounds of thunder, lightening, and rain, each in Texas- sized proportions.

"This is decidedly creepy," is my concession to conversation. Followed by, "These really are the good cheddar peppers. Mmm, it's all distributed, so you don't suck the jalapeno out with one bite."

"Mine! You aren't getting another. You have your cake."

"I know, I wasn't getting at anything." (Yeah right, I so wanted another pepper. Mean sister mine.)

By now, I was also eating on my second fillet, tearing off bites to cool, and blowing on the pieces, as everything on the plate was fresh- fried. They really don't make it 'til you order it at Captain D's.

And now as another clap of thunder resounded, made even weirder by the echo coming in through the drive-thru speakers,

"This is getting really creepy," my sister said, eating noticeably faster. (Not only was the atmosphere gone, we were running out of time as I still had to get to driving school. Not to mention those fries were awesome.)

The fries warranted their own conversation.

"These fries are truly terrible. They have way too much salt."

"I know. It's gross. But I can't stop eating them."

"Exactly. It's addicting.oh, they're horrible, but I think I'm in love."

We were both trembling in transports of ecstasy over the over-salted, crispy, loveable fries. "You want my hushpuppies?" (That would be me. I don't like hushpuppies. Why anyone does is beyond me.)

Glancing at my watch, I was suddenly more horrified by its silver, flower adorned face than the tropical storm brewing outside. Time was ticking, and my chocolate cake was sitting uneaten!

Suddenly, it was no longer their. The delightful carbohydrate topped with fudgey icing was sitting pretty in my stomach. No one can inhale cake as well as me. It's a gift.

With me grabbing the stereo (my sister has one of those removable ones now, see 'They Shattered My Window'), we ran outside, covering our faces and slid ourselves into the inviting Sherwood Green Honda Accord.

"Dang. That is some rainstorm."

The ride to driving school was a perfect tip to the end of our nice dinner-not exactly familiar with this section of town, the rain obscuring whatever was out there for as far as the eye couldn't see, my sister sped all the way there. And my mom called us on the way, wondering where we were in the awful weather.

It was a nice dinner, and gave us time to relax and sit back. Or at least get soaked and enjoy the finest fast food has to offer.