The Thing At Black Hole Lake by Dashe Roberts

Author:Dashe Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Burger Burglar

The jukebox at Buck’s Burger Barn kicked out a twangy country song. Milo watched, fascinated, as Lucy took a big slurp of her mint milkshake. It was green, and not because it was infused with a healthy dose of kale.

“I can’t believe you’ve never been here before,” said Lucy, a dab of whipped cream on the tip of her nose. “This is the best restaurant in Sticky Pines.”

Milo sipped his iced tea and took in the barnyard decor. This place looks like a scarecrow’s fever dream. “We usually eat in.”

“Order something.” Lucy pushed the menu towards him. “You need to eat. You did all the rowing.”

Milo had offered Lucy a lift to shore in his kayak, as the inner-tube contraption she’d lashed together had more or less disintegrated by the time she’d reached the island.

The kayak was just big enough for both of them to squeeze into and, with only one paddle, Milo had to row twice the weight he was used to. Sitting in the restaurant two hours later, he could feel his biceps burning. I’ll need a long Epsom-salt bath tonight.

“Why don’t you try a burger?” Lucy pointed to one titled the “Howdy Doody Double-Decker”. She leaned in. “I’d skip the hot dogs.”

“Burger it is.”

The gingham-clad waitress approached, chewing gum and playing with a pigtail. Her nametag read: MICHELLE.

“May I have one of these?” Milo pointed to the “Howdy Doody” on the menu rather than saying it out loud. “Medium rare, please.”

Michelle scratched her nose with her pen. “I’ll be honest, kid, Bernard’s just gonna cook it how he’s gonna cook it.”

“I’ll trust the judgement of the chef.” Milo smiled tightly.

“Rings or fries?” asked Michelle.

“Rings.”

Lucy held up a hand. “Those’re too greasy for your sophisticated taste buds. If I may?”

Milo shrugged.

“He’ll have the sweet potato fries. And I’d like a grilled cheese with all the fixin’s, please.”

“You got it.” Michelle winked at Lucy. “Tell your folks I say hi.”

“Will do.” Lucy gave her a thumbs-up.

Michelle sauntered off to the next table. It was early evening and the restaurant was filling up with the Saturday-night crowd. Milo had yet to experience the local nightlife, but he suspected things could get rowdy.

“Sweet potatoes are yams, right?” he asked.

“Forget the yams,” said Lucy. “We need to plan.”

“We? Who said there’s a we? You lied at the factory, and I still don’t know if I can trust you.”

“I didn’t want to lie.” Lucy looked like a cat caught eating the Christmas goose. “It’s all so confusing. This fight between us has been killing me, Fish. You don’t even know.”

“I do know. It’s been killing me, too.”

“I hope…” Lucy seemed to be fighting the urge to say something. “I hope someday you’ll understand why I did what I did.”

Milo sighed. She sounds exactly like my father.

“I just want us to be friends again,” said Lucy.

“Well.” Milo stirred the ice in his tea. “I’m here.”

“That’s a start,” said Lucy. “Let’s shake on it.”

Milo held out a hand. Instead of taking it, Lucy tossed him a straw from the dispenser on the table.

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