Island of the Unemployed

THAT'S JUST THE BEER TALKING

It was the third day of the week. Time for a gathering at the Boar's Head Inn. This would be their sixth. River and Kadee got there early, with intentions of announcing their plans to return to the other island.

River sported a new pair of pants. Marcus simply couldn't stand looking at River's checkered pants any longer, and gave him the pants earlier that day. They were solid-colored made of denim.

River watched as the door swung open. Adrienne and Sasha walked in, arm in arm, exchanging doe-eyed looks at one other. It was a new development, and not a surprise, but a bit over the top, and more than a little difficult to take.

"Vy do ve always have to meet here?" Sasha frowned.

"Be nice, Sasha. It's not so bad." Adrienne patted her hand.

They walked to the table, barely noticing River and Kadee, pulled their seats close together, gazing into each other's eyes.

Deja walked in next. She took one look at the two love birds, and smiled. "Well! What do we have here?" She sat next to River. "I see Princess and the hand stomper are getting friendly. Can't say I didn't see that coming."

Adrienne pulled slightly apart from Sasha. "Listen, Deja. About the hand-stomping thing." He glanced at Sasha.

"Hey. No need to explain. I'm on a boat fighting for my life, and you come along, and start stomping on hands. Makes perfect sense to me."

"What is this hand stomping thing?" Sasha asked.

"It's nothing!" Adrienne threw his hands up. "I was just trying to help!"

Vladi walked in. "Oh my! Am I late? Did the waitress take orders yet?"

'Don't worry Vladi. We just got here," River got up to greet her, and gave her a hug.

"River, look at those pants! They look so good on you!"

Vladi sat next to Sasha, as Marcus walked in. "I just love that we meet like this!" He put his hand to his heart, as if to keep it from beating too hard.

The waitress shuffled into the room with a scowl. "You again!" She looked around. "Where's the hot one?"

"He's coming. We'll have beer," Adrienne replied with a casual wave of his hand.

"Wait a minute. Why are you the one always ordering?" Deja shot him an angry look.

"Well, it's not like there's a choice."

"What do you want, honey?" the waitress asked. "This one gets a little pushy."

"He does, doesn't he?" Deja said glared at him. "I'll have a beer."

"Good choice. Beer for everyone! You too, Stringbean."

She shuffled out of the room. Sasha gave Adrienne a consoling pat on the hand. "Don't vorry. Maybe you can order next time."

"What?"

"Sometimes you do get a leettle pushy, though. Just saying."

The door opened. An enormous body filled its frame. "Lum!" They shouted.

With the exception of Lum's huge body, he was almost unrecognizable from how he looked when they first arrived on the island. His hair was slicked back into a ponytail. His slacks had a perfectly ironed crease. His shirt was white as snow, and covered by a stylish sports coat. Everything was custom-fit to his large frame.

It was impossible to find clothes that fit Lum on the island. So, some of his female clients made custom fitting clothes for him. They also regularly invited him to dinner, and he was too nice to refuse. He still hadn't learned to cook, and probably had no need to. The manager of the shop he worked at put his hair back in a ponytail, initially to hide the knot on the back of his head. Over time she decided she liked it, and slicked it back for him every morning when he came to work.