Passing the ketchup to Jimbo, Suzie spilled her drink in her lap. Not just a slosh over the top-a few lost sips-but the whole shebang. Glug-gunk-rattle; only the ice cubes remained in a glittering pile between her clenched thighs. "Eeeh!" she cried, alarmed at the sudden chill soaking into her bottom and the distress of having abruptly lost her root beer.
"Oh, Susanne Marie Parker!" Mother barked. "Get some napkins on that seat!"
"Where...?" Suzie squealed, arms waving, useless, empty cup in one hand.
"Whose got all the napkins? Tommy? Give her some."
"Yeah, Tommy," Jimbo chided. "You took 'em all, you little pig."
"Ayee! The ice is cold, "Suzie cried.
"Oh, shut up Jimbutt," Tommy retorted, throwing a paper napkin at Suzie.
"Suzie, scoop the ice up with your cup."
"Mom! Tommy called me..."
"Tommy!" Mother yelled. "Give her more, would you?"
"Yeah, you big fat..."
"Boys!" Mother yelled. "Get it cleaned up before it soaks in!"
Tommy, thrusting more napkins at Suzie from one hand, managed to neglect attention of the other, in which he clenched his cheeseburger, high above the melee. During this hiatus of care, the cheese-greasy meat patty popped from its bun imprisonment. In a vain attempt to catch the escaping patty, Tommy managed to swat it sideways, where slapped onto the door, flopped to the carpet amidst a shower of shredded lettuce and a couple floppy pickles. It rolled beneath Jimbo's dangling feet and fell sticky-side-down. Splattered mustard and special sauce graced the ceiling in a wide arc.
"Mom," Suzie demurred.
"Ha!" yelled a triumphant Jimbo. Naturally, he had to slide forward to behold the final resting place of his tormentor's trophy. In doing so, he stood squarely on the patty, grinding its mustard-stained melted cheese deeper into the carpet. "Oops."
"Aargh! Get that off the floor," Mother shouted. "For crying out loud!" She bent over to retrieve the meat patty, huffing and struggling.
"Mom," Suzie piped again, pointing out the window.
"What!?" she glared up at her daughter from her awkward position, wedged sideways between two seats. The meat patty on the carpet was just out of her reach.
"Uh, the light's turned green."
