The Crafternoon Sewcial Club - Showdown by J C Williams

Author:J C Williams [Williams, J C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-27T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

S tanley ran his index finger down the menu, making little murmuring noises to himself while he considered which particular variety of pizza might hit the spot.

“Hmm, what about…” he offered eventually, sounding as if he’d reached a crucial decision. “No, maybe not,” he said a second later, returning his attention to the menu for another gander, with his finger at the top of the page, ready for another pass.

Calum and Charlotte, who’d already given the waiter their own individual orders, watched on with anxious, hungry anticipation. “How about pepperoni with jalapeño peppers?” Charlotte proposed, a winning combination the last time they’d visited La Mona Lisa for one of their sumptuous pizzas.

Stanley shook his head, immediately discounting his mum’s suggestion, moving his nose closer to the menu for further consideration as the waiter stood poised, pencil at the ready, like a journalist on the verge of an exclusive scoop. “I could come back in five minutes if you’d—”

“Pepperoni with jalapeño peppers, please!” Stanley declared, coming to his own decision with firm confidence, as if his mum hadn’t just suggested this exact same selection only a moment or two before.

“Excellent choice, sir,” the attentive waiter offered, dutifully scribbling the order down on his notepad. “One small pepperoni and jalapeño pizza, coming right up.”

For Stanley, Friday night was rapidly becoming his favourite night of the week. With their recently instituted tradition, not only did Friday mark the end of an arduous, brain-sapping week of school, but it also meant pizza, followed by a lazy evening with a good film and plenty of snacks within reach. An arrangement Charlotte and Calum were happy to provide, especially when you threw a nice bottle of red into the mix for themselves. And with no gaming consoles or iPads in sight, a most welcome consequence for Charlotte was in having her son’s undivided attention and scintillating company for the evening.

There were many parents, Charlotte noticed, who would tear their hair out listening to yet another chapter and verse conversation about who was doing what on Minecraft or what crazy antics their child’s favourite YouTuber was up to. But this was what kids of Stanley’s generation were into. And even if Charlotte didn’t have a clue what a lot of it actually meant, she was happy to listen to Stanley nattering away for hours on end. Because she knew, one day, he’d fly the nest and she’d miss these random discussions.

With their meals soon delivered and thus Stanley’s gob subsequently full of pizza, it did however present Calum an opportunity to get a word in edgewise, and so he seized his chance. “So, Lotti. It’s good news that everything’s in order with Larry, yes?” he remarked, making conversation as he reached for their bowl of shared chips.

Charlotte discreetly shook her head, hoping to bring this line of conversation to an abrupt conclusion.

“Wait, hang on,” Stanley interjected, taking a sudden break from chewing. “What’s that about Larry? He wasn’t ill, was he?”

Charlotte rolled her eyes, but not in an unkind manner.

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