Free May the Best Man Win by M.T. Pope Page B

over. He still had the smile on his face. He couldn’t be this happy all the time.
    â€œWas everything okay here at Pollo Lantern and will you be joining us again?”
    â€œWhy yes, I will . . . And . . . ahhh . . . I just wanted to apologize for being short with you earlier.” I had a regretful look on my face. “It was so unnecessary for me to treat you that way when you were only doing your job.”
    â€œAhh, no problem,” he said, waving his hand. “We all have our bad days.”
    â€œAlso,” I continued, “I run an advertising company and if your boss needs any marketing done I would love to help him out, at a discounted rate of course.” I said, pulling out one of my cards and handing it to him, “Your service skills were phenomenal and I will be sure to tell my friends.”
    I shook his hand and as he shook mine he started to rub his thumb across the top of my hands. It had been a minute, but I knew he was flirting. I pulled away quickly, knowing I was off of men for a while and any longer I would have making out with him in the bathroom or something.
    â€œI’ll see you later,” I said, letting out a slight smile. “And don’t forget to give your boss my card.”
    â€œHe’ll get it. I’ll make sure of it,” he said, smiling again, showing that spectacular smile.

Chapter 10
    Lewis
    Â 
    Home Again
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    It was the weekend and I was in Philadelphia today visiting my family. It wasn’t a holiday, but once in a while my parents would call us all to come home and have a family evening getting caught up on each other’s lives. Basically, they wanted to be nosey and they wanted us to spill the drama that was going on in our lives. We all knew what the deal was when we got there so we each played our parts and gave our parents a nice good scare. It was all in fun and we usually told the truth at the end if we could hold in the laughter from the looks on their faces as we supposedly spilled our guts. They fell for this every time we did this. You would think they would have caught on by now. My parents were so plain and boring that it made no sense.
    This evening my brother and sister went first and second, and now it was my turn, and I was ready to go all out and give my charade the best that I had.
    â€œSo, Lewis, honey, what’s been going on in your life? Your father and I worry about you the most. You don’t call us like you used to do when you first moved away.” My mother was a beautiful lady. She was plump around the middle and her height was about the same as mine. She was soft-spoken most of the time but when she gave a directive you had better follow it to the T. My parents weren’t physical discipliners. They both were very vocal in their approach to how we as children, their children, needed to act and be in private and public settings.
    But, like most children, we had all tried our hand and were dealt with swiftly.
    â€œWell, Ma . . . Dad . . .” I paused for dramatic effect. “I don’t know how to say this. I just don’t know . . . how. I mean I still can’t believe it today. I am just at a loss for words,” I stammered effortlessly.
    â€œFind the words and spill it out, son.” My father spoke sternly.
    â€œWell . . .” I put my head down for dramatic effect. I heaved a little and let my shoulders slouch. I was giving it my all. “You’re going to be grandparents . . . twice.”
    â€œWhat? . . . But I thought you were . . .” My mother’s voice trailed off as she turned and looked at my father in bewilderment. I could almost see a smile creeping up at the corners of his mouth.
    Then it came, the sounds of thunderous laughter from my brother and sister. My parents looked on in confusion.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?” my father asked in total seriousness. I almost regretted going through with it. When I discussed this with brother and sister