I am sitting in my usual spot on the bird spotted bench under a spreading shade tree eating my lunch prepared by my wife in my metal lunch box that us...d to belong to my older brother who died fighting the dreaded Hun in the war.I could sit with my other bus driver friends but I hate to eat near people because I tend to burp a lot when I eat and it is a "common" thing according to my mother. The sandwich is tongue sliced nice and thin just the way I like it. My wife Gracie always puts lots of. I loosely taped a gauze pad over it then checked the blood flow to her hand by squeezing her fingernails. I was concerned that the rawhide thongs securing her splint might cut off circulation. Knowing that the pain would ease now that it was immobilized, I told her father, ‘Now we just need to let her rest and watch that she doesn’t damage the cast while it dries.’ ‘She will need to be watched, and she’ll need more medicine.’ I showed Grandma, as Spotted Owl and another woman watched and. .. Is it too weird for you?”“I guess not. What about you?”“Well, it is forty dollars.”“So, go for it?”“May as well, before we think about it too much.”Jill handed over her phone and said, “You should take the picture. It will be easier for you to hold the phone. Lying down okay with you?”“Sure. Whatever,” Stephanie replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible while lying back and finding the best way to hold the phone.Time seemed to grind almost to a halt as Jill moved in next to. Ray seemed to be amused.The men wolfed down their meals and ordered an after dinner drink. Erin ended up swallowing most of the drinks that Mel and George had ordered. I could see how embarrassed she was and how much the rough treatment was getting to her. I hoped that the alcohol would numb the pain a little.The waiter came back with the check without even asking if we wanted anything else. It was obvious that management was anxious to get us out of here and Ray and his two new friends found.