Blair, Boys and Butterflies

12.

     "Hello?" I say coming into the small restaurant. There aren't a lot of people here because it's almost 12 am, so it seems quiet.
     "Yes? How can I help you?" a worker from the counter asks.
     I come up to the counter. Looking around the menu I decide to get a regular hamburger. Why not?
     "Um... I want to order a hamburger and french fries, please"  No sign of Eliot so far.
     "Okay. Do you want something to-" someone calls her mid-sentence "I'm sorry, I got to go, I'll bring someone over to help you right away" she says apologetically, shuffling with the trays on the counter.
     "Hey, go help her" she says to someone whose back is turned around, stacking cups.
     "Okay" he says and turns around. And of course, it's none other than... Drum rolls, please...               ELIOT! Yay. I roll my eyes. I really thought he had the morning shift.
     Okay, why am I so surprised? I know he works here. I know I was going to meet him sooner or later. Why am I starting to feel nervous all of a sudden?
     "Hi, what can I get you?" he acts professionally, showing me his smile.
     "Um, hi" I wave my hand. Why? Why did I wave my hand? Stupid hand, bad bad hand. I imagine slapping it.
     He just shakes his head and chuckles. Great, now he thinks you're crazy, thanks brain.
     I clear my throat retrieving my hand "I would like a hamburger and french fries, please"
     "Is it to go or for here?" he asks, typing the order on the computer.
     "To go" I answer, resting my head on the counter.
     "Alright. It'll be here in a minute"
     I tap my hand awkwardly and look around. One family catches my eyes. Two little kids, a boy, and a girl, and two women.
     "Mommy! Mommy! I want to eat from your food" the little boy says, pointing at her tray.
     "Timmy, don't be greedy. Eat your food first and then if you still want mine I'll give it to you" she scolds him.
    Timmy crosses his arms and pouts. After a few seconds, he turns to the other woman. "Mommy is mean, tell her to give me her food"
     The woman chuckles and says "I promise I will buy you ice cream if you eat your food first, deal?" she extended her hand.
     "Okay" the kid seems chirpier than before, smiling and shaking her hand.
     "Molly, stop promising him ice cream every time he wants to do something bad, it'll become a habit in the future. He'll ask for ice cream every time" the mom hisses under her breath.
     "I know how to discipline him, Martha. He's my kid too, not just yours. Don't worry" she reassures her wife.
     Martha just glares at her and doesn't say anything. Seeing this, Molly hugs her and pats her on the head and with that, Martha forgives her.
     "Mommies, you're in public!" the little girl screeches.
     The moms just chuckle and stop hugging.
     I smile. What a wonderful family. They seem so happy.
     Someone speaks up from the other table "Excuse me, miss" an old man said to one of the moms.
     "Yes?" she turns to him.
     "Can you please not show PDA, it's not okay to do it in front of the kids."
     "Oh, okay. It won't happen again, don't worry" she politely says.
     "And not to mention that you both are women, how disgusting" he adds.
     What? After hearing that man spew nonsense in front of me, anger starts to build up.
     Martha is taken aback by this comment and is with loss of words.
     "You're disrespecting God, you're sinning" the old man continues "The one that created you, your own father. Disgusting" he spits.
     Um, excuse me? You can almost visibly see that steam is coming from my red ears like in the cartoons.
     "May I interfere for a second" I pipe in, coming closer. Six eyes all turn to me.
     "First of all" I turn to the old man "Their sexual orientation isn't harming you, let alone your kids. These moms are two grown-up adults with their own opinions and beliefs and they surely know what's best for them. Second of all, being in the LGBT+ community isn't a sin. So what if two women love each other? It's love. It's all around us. It doesn't matter if a girl loves a girl or a boy loves a boy unless they do harm to someone with that but as far as I know, it has never hurt anyone."
     "Hey" someone taps me on the shoulder. It's Molly.
     "It's okay. We're used to it. You don't need to defend us" she smiles weakly.
     "But he disrespected you"
     "I know, don't worry. We're fine" she sighs.
     "I hope people like him disappear from this planet" I glare at his direction. He rolls his eyes and continues eating his food.
     "Yeah, me too" Molly says.
     "Blair, your food is ready" Elliot shouts from behind the counter.
     "I'm coming" I throw one last glare at the old man and head to get my food. I really need to refuel myself after that. I grab my food and Eliot stops me.
     "Hey, you were awesome back there" he smiles.
     "You saw?" I choke a little.
     "Yeah, that old hag needed that"
     "I guess. I just did what I thought was right. Well, see you later!" I take the bag.
     "Byee" he waves his hand, ridiculing my earlier gesture. I throw an exaggerated fake smile at him and head out. Well, that interaction wasn't as bad as I thought it'll be.