Free Black Beans & Vice by J. B. Stanley

head. "Do you think you'll be hungry enough for
lunch at the food festival?"
    Eliot nodded. "Will there be cotton candy?"

    Jane ruffled Eliot's hair. "Not for you, young man. You had
plenty of sugar at breakfast. I'm sure there'll be some delicious,
healthy foods for you to eat at the fair." She took James by the arm.
"I only had a bowl of oatmeal, so let's head downtown. We could
walk around for a bit and then grab some lunch. I could eat a
hor-" she stopped herself just in time. "A humongous sandwich!"
    The three of them climbed into the Bronco and drove south
into town. James told Jane about the lack of suitable candidates for
the part-time library position while she shared her concern about
the sense of entitlement her students had begun to express during
the final marking period. The former spouses reminisced on how
work ethics and family values were the norms of their childhoods
while Eliot amused himself by counting all the red cars he could
spot.
    As they approached the pink and purple cottages of the Wellness Village, James could see that the food festival had already
drawn a huge crowd.
    "I don't think we're going to find a parking space close by,"
James informed Jane. "We'll find a spot behind the ABC Store.
Danny won't mind, especially if I pick up some Cutty Sark for my
father before we leave."
    James wasn't the only one with that idea. A mix of pickup
trucks and hybrid sedans filled up most of the lot. After running into the liquor store to make a purchase and have a quick
chat with Danny Leary, the proprietor, James lifted Eliot onto his
shoulders, cherishing the burden of his son's weight. Jane took a
picture of the pair with her cell phone camera and then the threesome jogged across the street.

    The courtyard of the Wellness Village was covered by a large
tent. Enticing aromas drifted into the parking lot where vendors had set up tables in order to distribute information on their
health-conscious businesses or to sell wares such as reusable shopping bags, beaded jewelry, yoga equipment, or inspirational CDs.
Skye waved at him from the Better State of Mind table and then
focused her attention on putting a brochure into the hands of an
interested passerby.
    In the cool shade of the tent, James and Jane scrutinized the
menus of the food vendors and debated what to select for lunch.
    "All the food here is good for vegetarians," Jane told Eliot.
"How does a chickpea burger and sliced peaches sound?"
    Eliot curled his lip a little. "A pea burger? That's gonna taste
funny."
    James couldn't have said it better himself, but decided that Eliot needed to know that he couldn't subsist on French fries, pasta,
and pizza as a non meat eater. "Son, being a vegetarian usually
means eating lots of fruits and vegetables."
"
    I know," Eliot answered solemnly. "Are you going to get one,
Daddy?"
    Stepping closer to the sizzling patties, James thought they
smelled quite good. "Yes, I am. We'll take three chickpea burgers,"
he informed the vendor.
    "With cheese?" the man asked.
    "Yes, please," James answered as Jane took Eliot to the next
booth to order fruit smoothies made from locally grown produce.
    The family found a free picnic table and James made several
trips back and forth to the condiment counter in order to collect
packets of ketchup, mustard, relish, and salt. After grabbing a few napkins and three straws, he picked up his chickpea burger and
took a large bite, knowing Eliot was watching closely for an adverse reaction. But the burger was very tasty.

    "Yum!" James declared honestly. "Go ahead, buddy. You'll like
it.
    Eliot took a tentative nibble. He chewed several times and then
reached into his mouth with his thumb and index finger and pulled
something out. "What's this?" he inquired.
    "Eliot, don't take food out of your mouth," Jane reprimanded
and then peered at the object on his plate. "That's a piece of tomato."
    "Oh." Eliot examined the interior of his burger. "There's