#bergen_county

And Brogan calls outt of he kitchen Window "We got a storry teller in here.."

*****************

(At the local McWendys)

They're hiring, a bit understaffed, but the two girls don't really have any where else to be

"So, you get the combos you get fries and a drink, yeah? You could order off the dolla rmenu if you want lots of food, though."

"I'll have a combo, I've been to McWendy's before," A smile "Dolly thinks she's a creepy little clown girl but I like her food. You want the WenNuggests ?"

"Heck no - cheeseburgers!"

A grin "My favorite too." They get to the front of the line, or start to, when a women of middle age pushes past them cutting ahead

"Hey!"

"I'm in a rush," She explains "Got three kids" THen turns to the worker ignoring the two girls she cut off "I'll need 2 Whappy meals, one 10 piece of Wennuggets...honey mustard and ... a Grand MCWEN... Superfries, and a Diet coke"

Lulu gives a soft growl in her throat

"Oooo, YOU have a right to cut in line, Karen?"

"Look, little girl, respect your elders" SHe snorts, then loosk at the cashier "Well? Can we get it moving here?"

At one table, three kids, ages 8, 6, and 4 are making a mess. Her spawn

"I respect people that earn it. Not entitled line-cutters who can't raise their own kids."

"How about you get back in line and wait like everybody else, gilipollas."

The last was from Lupe - "dumbass" "jerk" "brat"

""Hey, SPeak AMERICAN, okay?"

"Awwww, you triggered, Karen?"

"I think I know how to say hello in Navajho..." Lulu mutters "Friend taught me"

The mother of three takes a napkin, wads it up, and lobs it at Dagmar's head, "Get lost, you people are always causing trouble"

"You people?"

"You people?"

She whips out her phone. "Just what 'you people' are always causing trouble?"

"Hey, I got a phone too..." SHe holds up hers "And I am being threatened by a thug!"

Some in the crowd start to mutter, and not against Sam "Seriously? " /"She went there then did a deep dive" //"Yeah, 'you people' then 'thug?'"

Sam laughs. "I'm a thug because I said you needed to wait in line like everybody else? Trust me, people care more about you cutting than my color."

"But if you really WANT to go there..."

" I didn't say anything about your damned color I.." She notices the crowd which seems to be getting aggitated at her. No one likes a cutter. They like racists even less

ANd lulu is..whispering to them?

They start to get riled and begin to BOO the lady

"No? Okay, so who are you people?"

"I... I..."

A black guy, college age says "We know what she meant"

"Why don't you just head back and join the line like everybody else, lady?"

One white guy who looks to be middle aged himself shakes his head "2021... christ I thought that attitude was on the trasheap of history. Sorry kids."

The manager comes out "ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We reserve the right to resfuse service to racists"

Lulu keeps talking to the crowd aand their booing gets louder.

Sam quirks a brow.

THe woman looks scared.. "Fine, fuck this place and fuck all of you... oppressing me , this state used to be safe for a God Fearing American woman" SHe moves to grab her kids... as insults grow louder

and then once she's gone, the rage dims. the crowd calms

"May I Take your order?" The Cashier says to Sam

THe manager says "Give them extra fries for the trouble" and looks at the crowd "Sorry, folks"

Sam puts her phone away. "Sorry about that..."

"Happens.." Most mutter and shrug. Some folks who were very angry look ..a touch confused and embarrassed

Lulu smiles "Extra fries. How great is that?"

"Pretty sweet, yeah."

And they get their corner spot far from the bulk of the crowds, Lulu looks pleased with herself, and not just the food, "She was a bit of a twist soul wasn't she?"

"A bit. What did you do?"

"Me?" She stops about to munch a fry