MARITA

Bottled Up Emotion

The waitress brought their orders. Marita has ordered club sandwich and iced tea and Frank has ordered the tuna sandwich and coke. Marita just wanted to be polite and ordered a quick Meal. Frank seemed to catch the idea and didn't want to put Marita on the spot.

"If you need anything just call for Dona", said the waitress with a slightly flirty smile to Frank.

"Thank You. That'll be all," said Frank politely.

Marita caught that flirt but the waitress just smiled at her and went away. Marita picked up one sandwich and was about to take a bite when opposite her, Frank bowed his head to pray.

The sandwich was just in front of her opened mouth. Respectfully, she put it back down to the plate and waited.

Why didn't she pray when she is also a Christian? Well... a prodigal daughter like her has forgotten all about praying and Christian practice. But at least she can be civil.

"Alright! Dig in," Frank said lifting up his face from the food.

Marita smiled, nodded and picked up the sandwich from earlier. She has a silly feeling that the sandwich was laughing at her too.

"So, what brought you to the service this morning?", asked Frank wiping the crumbs with the tissue after he took a bite.

"Uhmmm...", Marita swallowed her bite before answering. "It was seriously just a coincidence".

"Ah, but I believe nothing is a coincidence, Mari"

"Hmm... Yes... all in God's plan, am I right, Reverend?" Marita answered quickly and was quite surprised by the slight sarcasm in her voice.

Frank noted that. "Hmm... I sense a lost sheep vibe"

"Who? Me?"

Frank didn't answer. He just casually continued eating calmly.

"I believe we all are entitled to our believes. What we want to believe and how we view the world, don't we? Didn't God give us the Free will?"

Frank reached out across the table and patted her hand slightly. "No need to be mad, Mari. We are just having lunch and having a casual conversation".

Marita was already offended and what happened this morning was too much for her. "You know what? I am fed up with you men trying to tell us woman what to do and how to see the world. You think you are better than me because you are more religious, right?"

Marita's voice was rising and people from the other table were looking at them.

Frank took a deep breath and nodded. "OK. I am sorry".

He gave her a calm look trying to channel peace to the obviously fuming woman in front of him.

Marita realized that people are staring at them. She didn't want to make a scene but what is done is done. Fuck it!

"You have a nice lunch... Reverend!", Marita stood up and took some money out of her bag and put it on the table. 'This lunch is on me". She left the restaurant and didn't really care to turn around to see what happened to Frank.

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The taxi stopped in front of Marita's apartment building.

"Hey lady, we are here!", The taxi driver called Marita who was fast a sleep in the back seat.

Marita awoke with a jump. What on earth did she do? Sleeping in a taxi? Still bewildered from the sleep and her unusual behaviour, she paid the fare and exited the taxi.