In This Place

The Salt in the Sting

"Who do you think you are, kid? Bare feet on the dirt, kid...crashing daddy's car, kid...--Stephen Wilson Jr.

Dinner was just as good as Cory thought it would be. She ordered the hot sesame glazed quail and Kris had ignored her raised eyebrow and ordered a double cheeseburger with sweet potato fries. Even the waiter had looked askance but Kris stubbornly stuck to her guns and when the waiter had made hesitant alternate suggestions, Kris had asked why was it on the menu if they didn't want to serve it?

Hard to argue with that logic.

And drinks. A lot more drinks. Cory felt she'd drank her way through the entire script of "It's a Wonderful Life" with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" thrown in for good measure. Santa's Whiskey Flip, The Grinch's Heart, North Pole Punch, Polar Bear Pecan Pie Martini and several Drunken Snowmen before Kris shook her head and pushed back from the table.

"Jesus, I'm flying. No more."

Cory nodded her head in agreement.

"I'm right there with you. Besides, I don't think I can say anymore of these stupid drink names, to be honest. Jingle Juice? Come on..."

"Ooo...did we try that one?" Kris immediately looked interested.

"Probably. I think we tried every one they have. It's almost time for our spa appointment. I'm hoping I don't throw up during it. I'm sure that would ruin the ambiance."

"I'll let you know now." Kris said, with a serious expression. "If you throw up, I'll throw up. I'm just saying."

"Well...if you throw up, I'll throw up even more. It's how I'm wired." Cory replied. She glanced around for the waiter so she could get the check.

"Kris Hunter?"

Kris looked alarmed as she leaned across the table towards Cory.

"Cory, somebody just said my name!"

Cory glanced at the couple that were standing partially behind Kris's chair, with napkins and pen in hand. She struggled not to burst out laughing.

"Kris, behind you."

"Are you Kris Hunter? We're so sorry to disturb your dinner but...we've followed your career, and I must say your playing of the Caprices at the Smith Center was above and beyond, just... flawless! And your composition! To hear it being played for the very first time, that was an historic moment in violin history, it will be remembered for years to come and..."

"What?" Kris blinked as she looked at the older, extremely well-dressed couple. They looked taken aback and Cory had to stare hard down at her lap to keep from laughing.

"You...are...Kris Hunter? The violinist?"

"Oh. Oh! Yes! Yes I am!" Kris blurted as she looked down at her plate and picked up a sweet potato fry and dragged it through ketchup.