BONG! BONG!
"Really?" I roll my eyes and shake my head, then honk my horn and shake my fist at the imbecile cutting in front of me.
BONG! BONG!
"Ugh! It must be important." I instruct my phone as I turn onto Market Street. "Hey, Siri, read new messages."
Siri responds, "You have one new message from Cathy, my boo." Then her monotone voice says, "OMG! I'm freaking out! Call me quick!"
I see Cathy's panicked face clear as day. I love her to pieces, but she's high strung. When she gets nervous, she gets fidgety, then anxious, then rash.
"Would you like to reply?" Siri asks.
"No," I tell my phone. "Call Cathy, my boo."
When we're connected, Cathy answers, "Zella, OMG! How far out are you? "
I speak softly into the phone. "Calm down, Sweetie. Breathe deep. I'm almost there. I'm pulling into the parking garage now."
"Zella, hurry. I'm a nervous wreck!"
The phone connection dies as I enter the concrete parking garage. "Lord, I'm going to have to find Cathy a Xanax."
Driving around and around looking for an empty place to park, I start to get excited too. This fashion show is going to be epic. When our gown is introduced, all our dreams for Cathy's Corner Boutique will come true, including putting The Wicked Queen in her unimportant, unnecessary, un-influential place.
d’Artagnan
"Come down here and help me." Nancy looks up at me and giggles. "I can't find it."
I laugh. "Not on your life. Not in this monkey suit. You're on your own."
She giggles again, and I shake my head. What else is there to do? Proposing tonight is a bust. She's too fried.
The headlights of a car entering the level distract me, and I glance at my Uber app to see if it's Nancy's ride, but it isn't, so I break the news to her while I watch the car park. "You're too stoned. I can't take you inside like this."
She giggles, "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have, but I just wanted a little toke to take the edge off. I was so nervous. But wham! I'm fried! That is some good shit! You sure, you don't want a toke?"
"I prefer adrenaline."
"Really? How do you take the hit? Don't say, a jab 'cause I'm not into needles."
I chuckle, "Firefight."
"You're a fireman?"
I laugh out loud now, "No. I'm a SEAL."
"What's that?"
"Never mind. Your ride is here." I offer my hand to help her up as the car stops next to us.
"I found it!" She shouts and holds it up to show me.
The couple from the car stroll by holding hands, and the guy gives me a head nod with a 'sup.'
As I pull Nancy to her feet, another car enters the level and circles around the aisles, looking for an empty place. She taps me on the chest and says, "Call me later, and we'll hook up. Tonight, doesn't have to be a total bust."
I put my arm around her and guide her to the car. The driver lowers the passenger window and asks, "Dugan?"
