If anyone had wanted to find that dining area more than me, it was my brother. As soon as he saw the few steel picnic tables in front of a fast-food counter with a grill, a soda fountain, a pretzel heater, and a nacho cheese dispenser he was walking towards it before the woman had said, "Take a seat."
"Awesome." He said as we all took a seat. Annabeth and Percy sat on one side while Grover and I sat opposite them.
"Um," Grover said reluctantly. "We don't have any money ma'am." I was about to correct him as I had some mortal money in my own bag, theirs all kinda burned in the bus fire, but Aunty Em just waved off his protests.
"No, no, children. No money. This is a special case, yes? It is my treat, for such nice orphans."
"Thank you, ma'am," Annabeth told her while Percy kicked Grover under the tables. That kid did not like the idea of not getting his burger, I couldn't help but laugh at the situation. I thought Aunty Em stiffened as if Annabeth had done something wrong, but then the old woman relaxed just as quickly, so I figured it must've been my imagination.
"Quite all right, Annabeth," she said. "You have such beautiful gray eyes, child."
The Satyr next to me stiffened and I know he had the same thought as me. How did she know Annabeth's name?
Our hostess disappeared behind the snack counter and started cooking. Before we knew it, she'd brought us plastic trays heaped with double cheeseburgers, vanilla shakes, and XXL servings of French fries. Percy and I were halfway through our burgers before we remembered to breathe while Annie greedily slurped her shake. Grover, on the other hand just picked at the fries and eyed the wax paper off the tray as if he might go for that, but he still seemed too nervous to eat.
"What's that hissing noise?" The satyr asked, we all listened but didn't hear anything.
"Hissing?" Aunty Em asked. "Perhaps you hear the oil in the deep fryer. You have keen ears, Grover."
"I take vitamins. For my ears." He supplied before looking back down to the tray with his food still untouched whereas my burger was gone and I was now dipping my fries into my shake.
"That's admirable," she said. "But please, relax."
Aunty Em hadn't eaten anything or removed any of her coverings even when she made our food but I guess it was just a cultural thing. It was a little unsettling having her watch the four of us while we were eating while she just sat there, but the food was absolutely delicious and I was satisfyingly full but very sleepy. I felt like I hadn't slept in days, but with all the changes recently I really haven't gotten good quality sleep since the Hermes cabin. Propping my head up with my hand on the table I sipped the last of my shake letting my eyes droop closed while I listened in on my brother making conversation with Aunty Em.
"So, you sell gnomes," He said, feigning interest.
"Oh, yes," The older woman said. "And animals. And people. Anything for the garden. Custom orders. Statuary is very popular, you know."
"A lot of business on this road?"
"Not so much, no. Since the highway was built... most cars, they do not go this way now. I must cherish every customer I get."
There was a silence so I lifted my eyes to see Percy staring at a statue behind him of a little girl holding an Easter basket, I would have admired the incredible detail if it hadn't held a face of almost being terrified.
"Ah," Aunty Em said sadly. "You notice some of my creations do not turn out well. They are marred. They do not sell. The face is the hardest to get right. Always the face."
