orangetoughguy | log post II

Sure.

[Does that even warrant a question? It's the best kind of breakfast outside of cereal.

He tells himself he's not asking where they plan on heading because they're on the road. You can't carry much of a conversation on the road.]

[With that answer it's Freddy's cue to speed up and zip around curves and things, up and down, until he takes a turn off the highway. Christie handles off roading just as well, bumping along until they reach something of a boardwalk. It's a lot smaller than something you'd see along the Southern California coast, but it's nothing to laugh at either. And wouldn't you know it? They got fish tacos.

Freddy walks the bike to a spot where people are hitching their bicycles, scooters, uh is that someone's horse and a big bright yellow ostrich looking creature? (It's called a chocobo.)]

Tacos. [The kid says again, gesturing to the sign of a fish in a sombrero.]

[Freddy can handle a gal like Christie with no problem at all. What's the old man so anxious about anyway? His grip doesn't fall slack until they've slowed considerably. Salt water is in the air but it cannot hide the smell of tortillas, carne, queso and fish.

When he's sure that the bike is still. Larry gets up and off. It almost feels like the bike is still roaring between his legs. The helmet comes off too.]

Have you been here before?

[The establishment or perhaps this side of the shore. It's bringing nostalgia like a wave. He eyes that funny looking Big Bird a moment before giving Freddy his whole attention.]

[Hey hey Big Bird's eyeing you right back, Lawrence Dimick. Kweh. Anyway he loops his helmet and doesn't bother with chaining up the young lady. The stand's within sight so Freddy has little to fear of someone trying to take her. As for being here before, he shakes his head while taking his jacket off.]

Nope, just seen it from the road. Kinda like a neat hidden treasure huh?

Uh huh.

[This fucking kid is too cool. Larry doesn't have his sunglasses, looks like he forgot them. His eyes are in plain sight as they move this way and that watching as he sets his bike in order.]

Smells good.

[He half turns to the taco stand. Another look to that bird, damn is it big. Kweh kweh.]

We must have missed it entirely last time.

[The last time they went all the fuck around the island. Then again they weren't looking to stay or looking for much else other than the freeway on ramp.]

Nice enough to eat out here.

[There are tables if they wanted to use them.]

And it's a big island.

[Freddy nods, finding it no thing that they missed it once before. At least they can try it out now. Could they do that in LA? In the US? Green eyes note the big yellow bird with its big blue eyes. Funny beast. Then it's off to the taco stand where the kid already claims a table for themselves. He did the driving, now Larry can do the buying.]

Surprise me. [ie. pick the food for the kid, then he points.] And a corona.

Sure is.

[Big enough to hide from the cops in. That has always been a positive. Then again, how much illegal activity have they gone through? Larry ticks off the offenses in his head as he waits and places their order. Grand theft auto, breaking and entering, murder (for himself), fraud, assault... The eats are slightly steep for a taco stand but he can smell how fresh the fish is. Frankly, the old man doesn't give a fuck.

He takes their order number back to the table. One corona for Freddy. The old man gets another for himself.]

Shouldn't take long.

[Automatically he's taking the tops off of the bottles. Pop one for Freddy. Pop one for himself.]

[Freddy watches as he pops those caps off with his bare hands. As if he needs the help, but he would be the biggest liar of them all if he said he didn't enjoy watching Larry twist off bottle caps.]

Thanks.

[Whoops that came out too sultry. He sips to cover it up seeing as how they're in public. And being in public it's obvious they aren't the only ones not making a break for that barrier. The kid leans forward to whisper while tipping his bottle at Bird Bird over yonder.]

What do you think, born that way or science experiment?

[Habit and courtesy get him to loosen the caps. Should he ever tell Freddy it feels like they make them more loose as a consideration to the consumer? Nah. Then again he wouldn't have the privilege anymore if the kid could do it easily himself. Maybe. Who can say.]

It's nothin'.

[Brown eyes follow his tipped glass to that bird lurking out the window. Kweh it says. You'd think it would squawk.]

Gotta be science. It's yellow.

[He'd still invite Larry to do it just to watch those muscles flex.]

Baby chicks are yellow.

[Sip. Touche kid.]

So you calling that--

[He tilts his head to the window, the bird.]

That right there a baby?

[That gets a shrug.] I'm not an expert or anything how the fuck should I know?

[Growing up in Fresno doesn't mean growing up on a farm. Fff.] Why don't you ask it?

[WARK. Something knows it's being talked about.]

You said baby chicks are yellow. That thing is yellow.

[He spread has hands as if to say well, there you go.]

I don't make a practice of talking to birds.

[WAAARK. Larry looks over his shoulder but then shrugs. Order up anyway. The senorita in her embroidered ruffle blouse brings their fish tacos with rice and black beans. She smiles, setting down the hotplates then taking their plastic number.]

That's bullshit.

[Freddy counters only because if they're talking about other kinds of birds well Larry practically makes it an art form. Is that food? Sniff sniff. Smells delicious. He gives the senorita a nod of thanks before digging in.]

Personally [let the man continue] I haven't seen any baby birds that big. Have you?

[They can keep talking about it if Freddy really wants to. His stomach and mind are set on the fish tacos. There are four of them with two orders of the beans and rice. Delicioso. Hands for the tacos, the rice and beans get the fork. Crunch crunch.]

Not that big. [Freddy concedes before taking a bite. Then he continues.] I've seen some pretty big fuckin' geese though.

[Chomp chomp nom. The kid talks with his mouth full and with a hand flapping.] Those shits are real sons of bitches. Peck the shit out of you and it hurts.

Think it's a goose?

[Mmmmm does that taste good. Best kind of breakfast. Chew chew the shell is crunchy.] Not if you don't let em get close. But those things they gotta be provoked.

[Waaark. Kweeeeeh. Whatever it is, it's doing its own thing waiting for whoever had the bright idea to wrangle it.] Must eat a lot.

[What? What? Freddy gives Larry a look...while using his hands.]

Are you sayin'--[He licks his fingertips.]--it's my fault I got attacked?

[Brown eyes watch the tips of his fingers then drift to his eyes. Another bite then a sip of his Corona before answering.]

Naw. It's enough to get close. Still isn't saying you asked for it.

[Another sip and the glass clinks as he sets it up right. This topic is far more amusing than some other big ol' bird of a subject in the room.]

You backpedal pretty fast there, tough guy.

[He blatantly calls Larry out on that one, just because he can. the same way the kid can just sort of ignore that other big old bird even though he dos want to talk about it. Freddy just doesn't know how.]

So a goose got you.

[He wipes his chin with a napkin and licks some stray sauce from his thumb.]

Were you a kid?

[Anything but right now. To be honest, Larry's not 100% sure if he would want to leave after all. Staying here means no risk for him or Freddy. It's safe. He doesn't have to feel too badly about having him stick his neck out for this.]

I was twelve, it was one of those county fair things you know? [Chomp chomp chomp.]

I'm pretty sure you got those where you're from. [Freddy jokes, it's not like California and Wisconsin are different planets...or ARE they?]

Never been to one in my life.

[Except for the fact that he's got the biggest shit eating smile on his face. A kid for a kid, Freddy. He crunches into another taco but nods as a signal for him to proceed.]

Uh huh.

Really? Never snuck out to one? I mean you gotta hear about'em, even the LA County Fair.

[Freddy's brow furrows, then he leans in with narrowed green eyes.] Or are you fuckin' with me?

I'm fuckin' with you.

[Aw man, two tacos down already. Larry picks up his fork.]

Is there more to your story?

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