I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM | Alan Frog

Best Ice Cream in Santa Carla

That was their slogan. Steven was never a big fan of it, yeah, the ice cream was really good, he usually made it, but it was also the only place to get ice cream in Santa Carla unless you can find a way to track down a cart selling it. The ice cream parlor was also the only place on the boardwalk that was open all day and all night. 

Even if they were open twenty-four-seven, it didn't mean that there was always customers in there. But it was really convenient, though the boardwalk was great for the summertime, it was also open year around so the teens working in shops or had jobs there always had somewhere to work on school work. Something that Steven takes advantage of during the school year when there aren't too many customers. Sadly his two coworkers on his shift don't see eye to eye with him on the topic. 

It was almost summer time, school would let out within the week and because of that there was no homework from his reasonable teachers. Which luckily for him were all of them. Though Joseph couldn't say the same. 

It was scorching hot outside even with it being the beginning of summer and Steven has never been so happy to work at an ice cream parlor. He almost felt bad for his friend Gloria, she was a life guard at the beach. But he figured she had gotten herself into that mess so it was her fault if she didn't like it even if she never complained about it. Not that she ever did though. 

The bell at the door rang signaling that someone came inside and walked up to the counter. "Can I get a scoop of cherry on a sugar cone?" A girl a few years younger than Steven asks from the other side of the counter. 

Steven nods and goes to grab a cone from the case of cones just as his idiot of a best friend, Joseph calls him, "Hey Steve, there's something wrong with the frozen yoghurt machine."

"Hit it Joey."

"Oh yeah! I forgot about that."

Steven sighs and goes back to getting the girl's ice cream. He scoops the cherry pink ice cream and hands it to her as she gives him the money before walking off. And just as she was opening the door, Gloria marches in, dripping all over the floor with no shoes on. The little girl looked back for a second before she went on her way. 

"Gloria, the floor." Steven drags out with a sigh. 

But the girl in question paid him no mind and went on with why she went inside. "Oh Steven I'm having the most awful day imaginable! I've been getting bad omens all day. I woke up and my ear was itchy and then on the way to the beach and a hare, not a rabbit, a hare run past me. And- oh Steven it's just been horrible!" As Gloria finished her rant she sat down on a stool at the counter. 

The floor was covered in a small puddle from her walking around as she talked. Steven knew he'd have to clean it up before someone slipped but he didn't mention it as he tried to be sympathetic to his friend. 

He personally didn't believe in omens and he was never super religious, but who was he to deny Gloria if she did? Even if he didn't quite believe in it, it was interesting to learn what Gloria and others think about and it makes for good conversation. 

"How about some ice cream huh? It makes everything better and we just started making a mango ice cream." He says as he starts scooping Gloria's usual order, strawberry and lime, with a scoop of mango into a glass bowl before sliding it over to her with a spoon. 

Gloria sighs dreamily and rests her head on her wrist and starts eating, "What would I do without you?" She asks.

"Hey Steve, the machine's still not working man." 

"Did you hit it Joey?"

"Yeah."

"Is it plugged in?"