Free Hungry for Love by Nancy Frederick Page B

car.  Turning toward Wimp righteously , she snapped her crop at him.  “ You totally missed him.  You were supposed to hit him. ”
    Wimp , his heart still racing , spoke up with uncharacteristic assertiveness.  “ Who do you think I am , Ryan Nolan ?   I ’ m not um-um-um—Kevin Costner. ”
    Butch remained livid.  “ Yeah , well—neither is he. And you know what ?   Neither are you. ”
    Butch pulled the car out and sped away , barely listening to Wimp , who was suggesting that being nutcracked with a softball was punishment enough.

- FOUR –
     
     
     
     
    “ How ’ s Kevin doing today ?” asked Bill , wincing a little.
    “ Still icing the crown jewels. Wouldn ’ t he be okay by now ?” asked Laura.
    “ It can vary.  Look it ’ s right down here. ”   They were heading toward Angie ’ s deli , and as they walked past Zero Tolerance , Bill said , “ She ’ s a patient. ”
    Spotting a couple smoking , Laura removed a flyer from her bag , handed it to them and said sincerely but with a touch too much emotion , “ You ’ re cremating yourselves alive! ”
    Holding Angie ’ s card , Bill opened the door to It ’ s Delish , and looked around at the small deli , which had only a few customers seated here and there.  A counter girl gazed at them with an unremarkable degree of disinterest.  After mentioning his reason for being there , she shouted , “ Hey , Angie. ”
    It took only a moment for Angie to emerge from the kitchen in her chef ’ s whites.  Recognizing Bill , she registered a look of concern.  Why was he here ?   Had something happened to Dr. Flicker ?   “ Oh ,” she said , “ Hello. ”
    Bill smiled at her in a friendly way and said “ I didn ’ t realize this was a deli.  We could have had lunch here. ”
    “ We ’ re planning a party ,” said Laura.
    “ Oh , I see ,” said Angie , relieved.  “ A party.  Somehow I thought you were here because…. Well , never mind , come—have a seat. ”
    Bill and Laura sat down and waited only briefly as Angie disappeared and reappeared , bringing a large tray holding many small plates , each containing only a couple nibbles on them.  Angie took a seat at the table with them so she could discuss the offerings and make suggestions.  With great effort to maintain a polite demeanor , Bill and Laura began tasting the food and their faces revealed only surprise , concealed dislike , and ultimately puzzlement about what they actually were eating.
    Angie remained oblivious and said , “ Yes , that ’ s right—buffalo pâté. ”
    Laura couldn ’ t quite believe what she was asking , “ Isn ’ t this caramel inside this meatball ?”
    Angie smiled excitedly.  “ Yes!  Do you like it ? I haven ’ t tasted most of these items—the diet you know—but I ’ m going for real cutting edge cuisine.  Oblivious to what was transpiring behind her , Angie didn ’ t notice as Butch and Wimp at a neighboring table gazed at each other with disgust.  Butch began coughing and almost turned green.  Suspiciously , Wimp lifted his plate and sniffed it before almost gagging.  Together they rose , as she tossed a bill onto the table and they hightailed it out of the deli.
    “ You know ,” mused Bill softly , “ Something a bit more simple might be best.  Chinese chicken salad. ”
    “ Poached salmon ,” added Laura.
    Enthused , Angie replied , “ I just created a saffron-curry sauce with chopped octopus and deep fried cilantro. ”
    “ Maybe on the side ,” said Laura politely.
     
     
    Chrissy was having a horrifically frustrating conversation with someone she was certain was a brain dead liar.  “ Yes , I do want to talk to the manager ,” she said with extreme irritation , “ It ’ s just impossible for me to take you seriously.  There ’ s no way you didn ’ t notice.  You ’ re not disabled , are you ?”
    Nonplussed , the little idiot said , “ I ’ ll get Joan. ”
    “ Hurry , will you ,” said Chrissy