'Tis confusion!

dream jokers

With Q gone, it was left to me to entertain myself. I looked at Java, still sleeping peacefully, and decided that a nap was indeed the way to go. It had also only recently occurred to me that my car was still at the mall, so I really didn't have many other options right now. But first...

I looked at the slip of paper Q had given me. I punched the number into my cell, then shot off a quick text:

Hey, it's Mara. Just wanted you to have my number in case you should need it. Hope Sal is ok.

There. That seemed right. I stuck my phone back in my pocket and headed to my bedroom. I drifted off to sleep quickly, and had the strangest dream. Q and I were in a fancy Italian restaurant. He was wearing his orange tiger bowling shirt, and I was wearing a panda shirt oddly similar to the one Sal had. Only the panda on my shirt wore glasses like Sal's and had a word bubble over his head that said "I'm sorry." Q and I were enjoying our meal, and when it came time for dessert, it was Murr who wheeled out the dessert cart.  He was dressed as a piñata, and had a lollipop in his mouth. Joe was a few feet away, dressed as a belly dancer, trying to solicit tips from people, who were tipping in mashed potatoes. One couple gave him an entire bowlful, and Joe grabbed it and started screaming " Scoopski Potaaaatttoooesss!"  at the top of his lungs. He then danced over to Murr and dumped the bowl on his head. Barbara was sitting at the next table over, watching the whole thing and laughing hysterically. Q and I weren't doing much better. Then Sal came out, dressed in a suit jacket, nice tie, and a grass skirt. He announced himself as the manager of the restaurant, and offered us a 30% discount and a free scoop of mashed potatoes for putting up with the hilarity. Q pulled Benjamin cat out from under the table and put him in Sal's arms, and Sal immediately apologized and offered a 50% discount instead. At that point, I heard an alarm going off. Joe stopped dancing and said "You gave them too much of a discount! You know what happens-" Joe's voice was drowned out by the blaring alarm, which was now growing louder and louder-

I sat up. The alarm noise had in fact been my phone. I looked at the screen. Q was calling.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mara?" Q's voice came through the other end. "I just wanted to let you know that Sal's ok. I guess he's got some family reunion thing next week and he had to take care of a couple of things. It's just too bad he doesn't know how to do that without being THE WORLD'S BIGGEST DRAMA QUEEN  about things."

"Sal's right there next to you, isn't he?"

"How'd you guess?" Q laughed. "Anyways, the thing of it is, this reunion is supposed to last three days...Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'm assuming you see the problem here."

"Yup. Unless Sal can be in two places at once, he can't be here for the party. That sucks. I'll bet Barbara is disappointed, too."

Q paused. "Actually, Sal and I talked, and we figured out an alternate plan. But it needs to be run by you first . This idea lives or dies by you alone."

"Ok, let me hear it." I waited expectantly.

"What we were thinking is, maybe we can have a small shindig at my place tonight, either instead of, or in addition to Saturday. If you give the go-ahead, Sal's ready to call Barbara,  and James, and I'll call Gatto. It wouldn't have to be anything fancy, but we were thinking cupcakes, and maybe something silly but still fun, like a piñata or something."

I burst out laughing. "Dude, I have to tell you about the dream I had later. Trust me, it's a good one. But yes, tonight sounds fine. Awesome, actually. Friendly reminder, however, that my car is still at work."

"I'll pick you up, of course," Q promised. "And either Sal or myself will go get your car tomorrow morning. Unless you need it sooner?"

"No, that's fine. This whole thing sounds wonderful. I can't wait for tonight."