Nobody Likes The Gray Area

McDonald's

When class is over, Huey and I meet Riley and Cindy in the courtyard. Then, we go to the parking lot to his car. Today, Riley sits in the back with Cindy, and I'm in the front.

"Where to?" Huey asks the car.
"Definitely not Wendy's. They service stank," Riley comments.
"Maybe if you hadn't yelled at the lady when she was taking your order, things would've went more smoothly," Huey says.
"Why you always takin' the other person's side?" Riley questions.
"Y'all some babies," Cindy interjects. "Let's go to McDonald's."
"That's cool wit me," Riley agrees.
"OK. I'm not ordering anything, though," I say. "Their meat isn't real."

Huey pulls out of the parking space and starts driving.

"That may be true," he says. "But other fast food chains aren't much better. The only difference is that they use frozen meat with a bunch of preservatives. But I don't eat meat, so..."
"Ew, don't get him started with all that health talk," Riley complains from the backseat. He hands me a cord and points to the radio. "Here, plug da aux in."
"You're not playing that bullshit in my car," Huey objects.
I hand the cord back to Riley.
"Sorry, it's his car," I say.
Riley sucks his teeth.
"Wait til I get my own car, that shit gon' be nice!" he boasts. He grins at Cindy. "Driver's Ed starts this month too. You ready, C?"
"Hell yeah," she agrees. "My dad's gonna buy me a Panamera."
Riley chuckles, "Dayum, you ain't gotta flex on us like that."
"I can't imagine anyone being safe with either of you behind the wheel," Huey says.
"Nigga, you drive like a old lady," Cindy fires back.
I cup my hand over my mouth to cover a small laugh. It may be weird and wrong that she says the N word, but she and Riley are hilarious.
"Oh, haha," Huey mocks me. "I drive in a safe way and follow all the rules of the road because I don't want to put my life or any of yours in danger. Obviously, you two don't value that."
"You sound like my dad," I tease. "He's a lawyer, so he's pretty geeky about law stuff," I say.

"Are your parents pushin' you to go to college?" Cindy asks.
"Yeah, pretty much," I answer.
"Where you wanna go?"
"Penn State. What about you?"
"Oh, I ain't goin' to college," she snickers.
"What do you wanna do then?"
"I'm, uh...takin' over the family business," she vaguely replies.
"Oh, what's that?"
"Yeah, you neva told me what your parents do," Riley chimes in.
"Ay, ay, y'all gettin' a lil' pushy," she says. "Anyway, we work in, um, the product distribution industry. My dad works as a wholesale distributor, you could say."
"Oh, that's nice," I say.
"That don't make no sense. What y'all sellin', specifically?" Riley questions.
"Ion know, lots of things." She shrugs.

Finally Huey pulls into the McDonald's drive thru line.

"What do you guys want?" he asks. "Riley, no funny business."
"Ay, if they don't gimme no trouble, they ain't gon' get none."
Huey sighs, "Just let me do all the talking."
"Lemme get a double cheeseburger, some large fries, and a Sprite."
"Same, but I want a Big Mac," Cindy says.
"...Filth," Huey mutters with a small grimace.
"That's good eatin', nigga," Riley says defensively.
"Whatever you say..."

Huey pulls up to the mic.

"Hello there, lovely white folk. This is the manager, Uncle Ruckus—no relation—and welcome to McDonald's. What can I get for you today?"

Huey looks back at Riley and Cindy with panic in his eyes. "You didn't tell me he owns this place!" he whispers.
"Shit, I ain't know," Riley innocently replies with a shrug.
"Since you too much a pussy to tell em what we want, I will," Cindy says, rolling down the window.

"Ay, lemme get a double cheeseburger, a Big Mac, two large fries, and two Sprites!" she shouts to the mic.
"No darkies allowed!"

I cup my hand over my mouth in shock.

  "Bitch, I said: lemme get a double cheeseburger, a Big Mac, two large fries, and two Sprites!" Cindy hisses. "Now, if I gotta roll up to da window and give you da business, I will!"

Riley laughs and high fives her.

"Was that a threat?! I'm callin' the police!"
"Aight! I ain't scared of 12!"
"Ruckus, wait, it's us!" Huey jumps in.
"Oh, it's you damn Freemans.... That's too bad. You niggas still ain't gettin' no service. Have a nice day."

"Guys, let's just go home," Huey says.
"Nah, 'cause dis nigga got me fucked allll da way up!" Cindy refuses, seething with rage.

A car behind us honks its horn. Huey groans and drives off.

"I can't take you two anywhere!" he scolds them.
"Who da fuck you talkin' to?!" Cindy snaps.
"Yeah, these employees just be actin' up," Riley joins in.
"You two better start packing your lunches now because I'm not driving you anywhere anymore," Huey declares.
"Mane, you trippin'!" Riley whines.
"We don't like you or yo ol' lady drivin' no way!" Cindy adds. "Stop this damn car!"
"Cindy, I'm not stopping in the middle of traff-"
"I said fuckin' stop it, mothafucka!"

Huey pulls over on the side of the road and Cindy gets out, slamming the door shut before she walks away.

"Ay, wait up!" Riley shouts. He gets out as well.
"Riley, get your ass back in the car! You're not skipping the rest of the day!"
"Nigga, fuck you!" Riley shouts over his shoulder, jogging as he catches up to Cindy.

Huey sighs and slaps his palm against his face. Then, he drives back onto to road, leaving them behind.

🖤

Did y'all think that was funny or sad? Cindy is wylin rn

I'll see ya for the next update ✌🏾