Insect Politics

Chapter 6

The sky was gray as Caleb pulled into the restaurant . It was a place called the Golden Onion. He'd been coming here since he was thirteen with his highschool friends.

Caleb watched as Greta's car pulled up in a parking space a few yards away from him. She didn't notice him as he watched her walk from her car into the restaurant.

(Why does it seem like she's moving in slow motion? This woman didn't walk. She glided. Her movements were as graceful as a ballerina.) Caleb thought to himself. He smiled with delight and followed her.

As Caleb entered the restaurant the aroma of hash browns and coffee filled his nose. His mind was too filled with excitement and anxiety to even think about food. That's how he always felt around Greta. He noticed her waving to him from a booth in the back of the restaurant. He quickly took his seat across from her.

"Sorry if I'm a little late." Caleb said hastily.

"It's ok. I'm starving." Greta said.

"Oh yeah? Do you not get a chance to eat a lot in the lab?" Caleb asked.

"Not really. Professor Eastman goes not stop. I don't think I've ever seen the man eat." Greta said.

"Good morning folks welcome to the golden onion what can I get for you?" The waitress asked as she began to write in her pad of paper.

"How many eggs are in the ultimate omelette?" Greta blurted out loudly before Caleb could even think about what he wanted.

"Three eggs." The waitress said.

"Can I make it four, and does that come with pancakes?" Greta asked.

"No it comes with hashbrowns and toast. Would you like me to add a side of pancakes?" The waitress asked.

"Yes I would. And extra cheese on the omelette please." Greta answered.

"And what can I get for you sir?" The waitress asked Caleb.

Caleb was dumbfounded. That was a lot of food. Greta seemed skinny enough to be an underwear model.

"Um...I'll just have some coffee and a slice of apple pie." Caleb said.

"Can I get you guys anything else?" The waitress asked.

"Tell the cooks I'll tip them to hurry." Greta added smiling.

"I'll tell you what? We'll have the food out to you extra fast free of charge ma'am." The waitress said with a bright smile as she adjusted her glasses.

"Thank you." Greta said.

After the waitress left Caleb, still dumbfounded, couldn't think of anything to say. He couldn't stop thinking about how much food she ordered.

"You eat...a lot." Caleb said.

Greta started laughing hysterically.

"You are so frank. So blunt. I like that." Greta said.

"When I was a kid I asked my grandmother if she farted." Caleb said.

Greta started laughing again. She laughed so hard she had to quiet herself so as to not make a scene.

"What?" She asked.

"We were in the grocery store and I heard her. Then I asked her if she farted. I was a kid. I didn't understand why that may have been inappropriate." Caleb said laughing.

"What did she do?" Greta asked.

"Slapped me across the face." Caleb answered.

"Grandmothers can be strict." Greta said.