"Is thatyou?" she said.
"Hey," I said, "Give me a break. I haven't eaten yet today." Funny, in all the commotion, I hadn't even realized I was hungry. But now that Ihadthought about it, I was utterly starving. "Is there a food court around here?" I asked.
"Have you forgotten we're on a schedule?" she asked.
"So I'll just grab something to go."
Her lip curled. "And eat while your nails are getting done? Tasha will justlovethat."
"Jeez," I said. "What's the big deal?"
With a pained expression, Bianca looked heavenward. "Fine," she said. "I'llget the manicure.Youget a pretzel, or whatever it is that you eat."
"Wait a minute," I said. "I thought Ihadto get a manicure."
"Do you see a gun to your head?" She gave an exaggerated sigh. "Look, you've got one minute. Choose. Manicure? Or food?"
At the mention of food, my stomach gave another rumble.
She stared at me like I'd just farted at the dinner table. "Are you going to be doing that all day?" she asked.
Great. Now I felt cheapanddisgusting.
Five minutes later, I was standing in the food court, trying to decide between nachos or a cheeseburger. And that's when I heard it – my own voice, screaming out from someone's phone.