"Yeah I supposed so," Charles nodded his head, laughing at his friend's joke."Hey Charles you know it's October right!!" Pete spoke to Charles in a to...e suggesting that he was on to something."Of course I know Pete. Why'd you bring that up??" Charles was surprised."It's October mate. You know what that means. It means that in a few weeks it is gonna be Halloween!!" Pete cried with excitement."Oh yeah. Never thought about that!!" Charles said in an astonished tone."This is going to be the first. I opened the door for a semi pompous woman in her mid-thirties. They don't seem to want to smile or even acknowledge a man's presence, lest we try to solemnize them right there on the threshold of the double doors into Panera. "Why do I fucking come here?" my mind screams.Once I get in, I remember. As snotty as they seem, they still intrigue me. Lean, slender, elegantly, elegantly coiffured women of all ages seem to be able to walk with their noses in the air; unseeing men around them. Others. "Mr. Lowell is here and insists on seeing you," she said in her normal, smooth voice. It didn't matter how her voice sounded, Frank knew there was trouble outside his closed door. When Jeannette used the word 'insist', Frank knew what it meant.Frank could have put Lowell off with one excuse or another and he was tempted to do it. It was eleven already, after all, and Frank would have preferred to avoid the distraction. He realized that the idea was wishful thinking. In a tit-for-tat world Frank. One of us held the tent flap open while the rest of us lined inside.Inside, the gloom of the early darkness was only somewhat relieved by several field lanterns strung up on the tent poles. A long table was lined up on one side, flanked by a couple of Sergeants, and on the tables were stacks of MREs, with cartons of cold milk at the end. Even though it was a bit warmer in the tent, our breaths were still fogging the air in front of us. Yeah, it was just a bit colder than it is today, but back.