My Everything

Spice

Lisa grinned from ear to ear as she talked and talked. She was a good girl at heart, but she never knew how to read the room. Lisa's eyes were bulging in excitement and her hands frantically span the table. It would be comical if I didn’t know how much she saying was meant to her and how to communicate it better to someone else.

If she did, she would realize that Barba was sinking further and further in the chair in an attempt to get away from her. She didn’t stop on one topic long talking about school. The town places she goes for fun and asking Barba a million questions about the city that she was from. It may have been the clothes, but Lisa was on a role as she compared hers to Barbra. Designer wear, Barba had called it. I guess that means it had to be worth a lot of money.

“When is the food coming,” Barba asked, looking at her watch.

“It should be soon, Angela’s really good at cooking, you know. She went to the city once when she was young to learn and she learnt a lot from her parents and---.”

“Let her breath Lisa,” I said, looking at her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

Lisa turned looking down at me giving me that poutful face of hers sometimes it was hard to think that she was still just a kid.

“Barba don’t eat the special when it comes.”

“Why not?”

Lisa giggled.

“It will have you in the bathroom thinking over your entire life.”

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s that and worse.”

“I thought she was a chef that went out the city and trained.”

“Yeah, my cousin tells that to everyone.” My tone lowered. “The truth is, that’s been a lie. I can’t really stand the lying.”

“A little white lie can’t hurt, probably just trying to sell the business.”

“Everyone knows too they just pretend for her sake. It’s a small town isn’t that right Lisa.”

Lisa nodded her head for yes. “It’s bad, you shouldn’t eat it.”

“How bad can one burger be?” Barba asked it was met by the chuckle of the waitress as she passed.

“Bad, really bad,” I replied, placing my hand on the counter and looking around. “Some people say that the burger is still alive.”

“I remember hearing that when we were at school,” Lisa replied.

Barba sighed in resignation. “Alright then I won’t eat it but won’t you try it Lisa?”

“No, I am fine,” Lisa responded.

It wasn’t long before the food was on the table it looked like a buffet but did Angela really have to be here gawking at the table for a response. Barba kept picking at the hash as we all ate in silence, even the men seemed to be looking at the table and whispering to themselves. Damn, everyone knew how Angela’s burgers were; it wasn’t one for the faint of heart.

“So aren’t you going to eat it, city girl?”

“Angela, no one can eat something if you’re just gawking like that.”

Barba turned to Angela. “This burger seems quite fascinating its bigger than expected why not have a piece with me, Angela and you too Diane.”

“What?” I replied.

“Sounds like a deal bring a knife,” Angela shouted to the waitress who stopped what she was doing to get a knife to the table.

“What the hell were you thinking Barba this, burger was like fighting the god damn devil.”

The burger was being cut in three.

“I can’t eat this Angela.”

“You’re going to leave your city friend hanging. Man up a bit, Diane.”

“Barba?”

“I don’t see what’s wrong its hot isn’t it. I have had far hotter in the city,” Barba said, grabbing her piece and eating it.

Angela followed suit, and then everyone’s eyes fell on me.

“Well,” Barba said.

“I picked mine and ate it too.”

For a moment it seemed like nothing was going to happen as Angela went back to the kitchen, but I knew this stuff far better than Barba. Why did she want to play tough?

“Bring two glasses of milk,” I told the waitress.

“Its fine, I am good.”

“No, it’s not, it just hasn’t kicked in yet,” I said as the milk came to the table I quickly drank it. “Please, can I get another?”

“Are you okay, Barba?” Lisa asked as Barba’s body broke out in sweats.

When the fire kicked in, the looked from Barba’s face told me the mistake she realized she had made.

                                                                      ***

This didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to be. I at least wanted to spend some time with Barba and got to talk to her and made up to her about what was going on. Instead, I stood right outside the bathroom for the time Barba vomited. Strangely, the other city girl was here too, fixing herself in the broken mirror.

“I told you Barba, not to take it, didn’t I geez.”

“I didn’t expect it to be so goddamn hot, I like my spicy stuff too, but that burger was like Lisa said. The devil and I only had a piece. How the hell do people eat those---.”

“Do you want me to come in?”

“No, stay there. Diane, I will be fine.”

“Can I get you anything?”

“Water, bring me some more water.”

“You should drink some milk.”

“I don’t like the taste of milk.”

“Milk will wash away and stop the burning.”

“Water.”

“Okay, okay, I will get you your water. I stepped out of the bathroom, seeing Lisa waited outside by the door and Angela snickering to herself further behind the counter.

“You’re happy? You know that she wouldn’t be accustomed to that.”

“Nothing of the sort, I am just welcoming her to Notaridge our humble town with a spicy burger she will be fine. She needs more water now?” Here,” Angela rested it on the counter. “I do feel for her, but she should have drunk some milk instead.”

I returned to the bathroom to find Barba being held by the lady as she held her head over the sink this time.

“Was it really that bad?” the woman asked.

“Yup, it knocks down lots of the men. I am surprised she is still standing. I am sorry let me get her from you.” I said as I took Barba’s hand. “You’re okay to drive?”

“Why do you ask do you plan to take me home?”

“I just wanted to know if we would be able to do more stuff together. I don’t have much time before I have to work.”

“Where exactly are you going to work?”

I sighed. “It’s not really work this evening per se it’s babysitting for my siblings at home.”

“Fair enough I wouldn’t mind taking a look at the farm I never been there, but I hope. Barba straightened out. “They are any more bears or family friends that try to kill me with spice.”

I laughed and so did the woman in the bathroom.