This choice: running by Big Burger? I've got a serious hankering for fast food..." • Go Back... Piper couldn't help but roll her eyes as she read her mom's message. She's already been out burglaring bakeries all morning, so why wouldn't she want to run right out and get fast food too? It's not like she was an octopus—where was she supposed to put all this stuff on the way home?
But Piper had learned over the course of her life, and especially since her Mom's hormones had started going into overdrive, that there were some battles that could be fought, and others that it was just best to let them be. A hungry, cravings-fueled pregnant woman was not an opponent Piper was in the mood to face right about now.
"Sure thing, Mom." She said aloud as she typed out her response, "Nevermind the fact that I've got exactly one free hand and you totally won't pay me back..."
***
Growing up, Piper and her family never did much eating out. Because, you know, that costs money. Even when her Dad was around, and when there was actually income coming in, eating out was reserved for special occasions. Birthdays, good grades, and general bribery were usually the only reasons that Piper would walk through the glass double doors of places like Big Burger. Granted that had changed lately, on days that Mom didn't feel like cooking particularly, but the smell of grease and fast food still wasn't something that Piper had gotten used to.
Big Burger was this chain that reached all across the nation (supposedly—Piper never got far past the Port). It had this retro 50's thing going on. Chrome walls and tables, red everything else. The employees wore white uniforms with dopey little paper hats. There was a long silver counter where you placed your order on one side and got it on the other.
Piper had guessed it was pretty popular, judging by the fact that it was a Tuesday afternoon and the whole place was jumpin'.
Summer time in Daven's Port meant that all the stupid teenagers (herself included) were out of school and had officially moved into "free-range" territory. Mindless, wandering drones capable only of satisfying their baser urges like cramming fries into their face and complaining about people they didn't like or shows they'd seen on TV.
Not taking care of a pregnant mother... Piper mentally added with a roll of her eyes.
Anyway, suffice it to say, the wait to place her order was a long one. And the box of baked goods held by the handle seemed to get heavier with every customer in front of her...
"Hey there, welcome to Big Burger!" Said a perky little redhead in one of those stupid hats, "Would you like to try our Memphis BBQ Big Burger today? It's a dollar off!"
"No thanks. I mean, I would except, you know, the order's not for me and... well, you get it." Piper prattled as she whipped out her phone with her free hand, tapping it awake and squinting at her Mom's very specific instructions, "Lemme get a, uh... Big Double Cheeseburger, extra onions no pickles... a Big Fish Sandwich, extra mayonnaise, some fries..."
Piper could have sworn that the line got longer by the time she was finished. That poor little twat behind the counter couldn't keep up with her order if her life depended on it! So she had to keep going back, repeating herself, correcting her mistakes... Why was it so damn hard to listen to what she was saying and push a damn button?
Okay, fine, a series of damn buttons.
Ugh... how was it that her mom the pregnant one and she was the one who was so grouchy all the time?
At least it didn't take long for her order to be ready. The sweaty teens working in the kitchen plopped a fresh, greasy bag of fast food right in front of her and called out her order number. Juggling her phone and her mom's bakery bundle, Piper did her best to grab the bag with her remaining few fingers. She managed, somehow, and started walking towards the door...
BVVT BVVVT!
Piper felt her phone vibrate in her hands and barely contained what would have been a very audible groan of displeasure. It was probably her mom asking her what was taking so long.
Oh look, surprise surprise, it was! Now Piper not only had to carry everything out all the way home before the grease managed to eat through the bag, she also had to henpeck her pointer finger on the keyboard so her mom didn't—WOOF!
Piper suddenly collided into something—both her parcels fell right to the ground, along with her phone!
"Ah shit, sorry about that..." Piper shot down to the ground, "I-I'm in kind've a hurry y'know? Really sorry..."
Piper looked up, only to find that she'd bumped into...  | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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