"I bet," Joe said jealously. He badly wanted what Brian was going tohave. He tried to get it, but no woman would have him. "I'm going out to dinner wi...h this woman." A woman!" Joe exclaimed in a transparent attempt to act surprised. "Yes. She's perfect. She's all I ever wanted."Joe smirked. "So she knows?" Knows what?" That beneath that shapely form beats the heart of a man."Joe's words cut him down to size. Brian had forgotten who he was. Hestared down at the floor with a grave expression on. Zack hoped for nice weather as it was once again time for Vancouver Island’s Filberg Festival held annually in the Comox Valley. The festival consisted of ninety-six artisan vendors and various musicians. Zack parked his truck on a local street several blocks from the festival grounds. Along the route to the festival he encountered several groups of people. There was a young mother with two small children that walked hand in hand. Further along the route he met three young ladies dressed in. ‘Did you make it?’ I asked. ‘Apple, cherry or peach?’ She asked as she nodded. ‘Peach, ala mode if possible.’ I watched as she cut a generous slice and slipped it in a small oven. A minute later it came out and she put a generous scoop of ice cream on it. One bite and I said, ‘Is there something you cook that isn’t very good?’ ‘Yeah, Escargot.’ ‘Good! I hated them last time I ate them!’ ‘You really ate snails?’ Her face screwed up like she’d just bit into a lemon. ‘Once! I was in France and. Thats a lot. Umm…whats the problem? She said. Theres more to it than I remember. He told me to call him, but I havent yet. I said motioning towards my phone on the desk. Call him now. Ill get your pizzas ready. She said leaving. She closed the door behind her. Even though she tried to do it quietly, it was a loud thud. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number. It took me a while to actually call however. Once I did it rang twice and he picked up. Hello? He said. His voice sounded raspy like it.