8: Innocence

Corey's eyes opened slowly. It was early morning. Lexie had not woken yet, and she was still slumped to the side, her head and left hand falling on Corey's stomach. The boy's back hurt from leaning against a tree all night. But you had to make do. Corey stretched out his arms a bit and yawned. His trusty little Happy Meal compass surfaced from his pocket for a moment. Then he gently picked up Lexie, still asleep, in his arms, stood, and started off. The thirteen-year-old walked for about ten minutes before Lexie woke up. She mumbled something and looked up at Corey. "Good mornin, Corey," she said brightly. "Morning to you," Corey replied, still walking at roughly the same pace.
    "Are we gonna have breakfast today?"
    "No, not today. We'll eat an early lunch, though." Corey stopped to let Lexie's feet touch the ground, and the two continued. "So it'll be like a brunch!" Lexie exclaimed. Corey laughed.
    "Yeah, kind of like a brunch." The two continued along the sidewalks of Pennsylvania for another hour. Corey finally stopped outside a restaurant. After suggesting to eat here to Lexie, who happily agreed, the two stepped inside. The name of the place was simply "Ollie's". The lighting was dim, and the building's interior was decorated as a sort of outdoor setting. The mortar between the bricks was very uneven, Corey assumed it was on purpose, and the bricks themselves were the classic shade of scarlet. There was a fish tank with a lot of small fish as well as a giant catfish, which made Lexie clap her hands and laugh. A giant stuffed bear greeted them near the entrance, and several moose and deer heads were on and around the ceiling. A green reception desk sign said to please wait to be seated, and girl walked up to the desk. "Two?" she asked, getting a menu and a kid's menu. Corey nodded. "Okay, if you'll please follow me..." the receptionist said, leading the two through the room and down a small set of stairs to a booth. She laid down the menus and informed the two of today's special, which was a seafood-centered dish. The receptionist then walked away to be replaced by a waiter. He told Corey and Lexie that his name was Jake and asked what they would like to drink. Corey replied "water", and Lexie wanted apple juice. Jake scribbled down the order and walked off. Lexie took a red crayon and doodled on the empty space of her children's menu. Corey lazily browsed through his full-size menu. The waiter came back with the drinks. He set them down and asked if they were interested in an appetizer like their new Croc Bites, but Corey declined. Jake asked if the customers were ready to order with a negative response. He told them to call him when they were ready and headed off to a table across the restaurant. "How about we split the chicken fingers?" Corey asked. "Okay," Lexie piped, putting her crayon down on the table. Corey drummed his fingers on the surface until Jake came back. The thirteen-year-old gave his order and handed the waiter the menu. Jake nodded, jotted down the food, and walked over through swinging doors to another room, probably the kitchen. "So, uh," Corey started, wanting to break the silence, "do you go to school?"
    "Mm-hm, but school's out 'cuz it's summer."
    "Yeah, it is for me, too. What school do you go to?"
    "I go to Green Hills Elementary."
    "Cool. Are you in first grade?"
    "Mm-hm. What grade are you in?"
    "I'm in eighth." A waitress walked by, stopped, turned around, and refilled Corey's glass with water. "So what school do you go to?" Lexie asked.
    "Summerfield Middle School. Good old SMS. Our mascot was a camel." Corey laughed a little. "Should have seen him at the soccer games. I think the mascot's name was Kevin or something, but he would just go crazy out there."
    "You play soccer?"
    "Mmm-hmm. I was one of our team's midfielders. Coach Patterson worked us half to death out there."
    "You look okay to me!" Corey smiled.
    "Yeah, I guess I do."
    "Chicken fingers?" Jake came to the table with a round, brown tray on his shoulder. There was an entree atop a plate on the tray. "That's us," Corey said, raising his hand. "Okay, then," said the waiter, setting up the stand previously in his hand and setting the tray on it. He picked up the plate and put it in the middle of the table between Corey and Lexie. They ate their meal in mostly silence, an occasional comment from Lexie penetrating it every once in a while. Corey paid the bill, and the two exited the building as a large group of people came in. "All right, Lexie, that's all we're having today," Corey said with Lexie on his back. "All right," Lexie said a bit sadly. The boy made his way through the crowd, some conversation being overheard by Lexie and him.
    "...And she said I was fired!"
    "...You're telling me!"
    "...Are you sure it's the only way?" The patches of conversation from lots of different people still came through.
    "...What do you mean by that?!"
    "...It's tough up there, darling."
    "...And he took it! He took all my damn money!" Lexie blinked. "What do beavers have to do with money?" she squeaked. "Um, nothing, nothing!" Corey said, speeding his pace and continuing his journey through the crowds.