Take your time, I am so full. Sometimes I can't even think about food and now - the last thing I want is that torta. Can't drink that warm pop - nothing worse. I tried not to look toward the low counter that ran along the dining area and into the kitchen. My torta was probably sitting there on the counter, ready. "Cancel that side of rice!" I barked. "Sorry, too late," she was that same old waitress. The other, the youngest one and ugliest, the one with the unnaturally smooth hairless arms, like plastic, well she was incapable of being a manager or owner-operator or anything useful, they canned her. Today like usual I got the old one. I can't handle the sight of the serving dish full of jalapenos and carrots next to me. Stomach turning and bowels tightening just thinking about it - No ALLURE of giant burrs of spicyness scraping through my mouth - the torture of having nothing to wash that burn down with. Oh no! Don't bring the lunch. I'm about to hurl!

I looked out the open door and across Chicago Avenue at the new Burger King under constuction. A lawsuit between McDonalds on Chicago and the old Burger King at the corner of State was settled and the Burger King was re-investing the large sum of money in a new and larger restaurant - overlooking the Cathedral and contextually relating to the original fabric of the city. McDonalds, on the other hand, was quietly vacating the neighborhood, seeking an area more receptive to its product.
"Great" I grumble as the cook with grime caked under his fingernails brings my torta. I don't take a single bite. I just sit there spinning the torta on the plate. Chicken and lettuce flew off the torta and onto the countertop, but surprisingly, none got on me. As I sat there playing with the food like a sullen child, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I had come to prefer the silent mode.

"What"

"We need to meet"

"Same place?"

"No, I'll get back to you with the new location."

"Usual time then?"

"No, I'll get back to you."

"What the hell, I can't bend to your every whim like a dumb henchman - if you can't get back to me soon with definates, I can guarantee I WON'T be there."

"Got it, Don't worry, you're in and you'll know all the details."

I disconnected and pushed lettuce around the table with the phone, adding a little color to the already colorful yet VAPID phone. The phone vibrated again.

"Same time same place?" A different, yet recognizable voice asked.

"No, I just talked to him - they don't know yet."

"Shit!"

"I'll get ahold of you later, pal, good bye and have a good one."

"Good bye"

I poured a little Jaritos onto the plate and cursed my fucking bad luck. I left the cold torta and warm Jaritos on the table. Fuck 'em, I thought as I quickly darted out the door without paying. I felt restless. I had to keep moving....

Just hurry up. I am so hungry. Sometimes it just seems if all I can think about is food. And now, all I want is that torta. Wash it down with a cold 'Jaritos'. Damn, can't beat that. I looked over the high counter separating the grill from the seats. It doesn't look as if it is sitting up on the counter. "Could I have a side of rice also?" "Sure" This was a different waitress. The older pretty woman with the hairy forearms (I think she is the owner), is still around, but this waitress is new. She is a bit prettier than the other ones. Maybe I'll get a cup jalapenos and carrots. Mouth watering just thinking of it. The ALLURE of those microscopic little burrs digging into my mouth causing my eyes to tear up...and then washing all that burn down with an ice cold Jaritos. Hurry up. I'm drooling over here! I looked out the window across State St. noticing the empty lot where the Burger King used to be. I still say McDonalds started that fire. "Thanks", I say, as the waitress (who I just noticed has nice fingernails) sets down my torta and rice. Time to dig in. It seemed as if I did not breath as I took five bites of the torta. After each bite I grabbed a new napkin to wipe off my hands. The dripping chorizo and sour cream is causing quite a mess on my hands. I heard my phone ring.

"Hello?"

"It is on. Same time, same place."

"Got it. I'll be there." I replied. I noticed some nice grease smears on my phone. I immediately wiped the phone off to get it back to its cold, VAPID, gray exterior casing. I immediately dialed the other number.

" Same time, same place." I said.

" Same as we talked about?"

" Exactly the same".

We both hung up without any proper goodbye. I finished up my torta. For one of the few times ever, I had a lot of Jaritos left after I finished my meal. I took three large gulps to kill of the Jaritos. It is going to be a good day. I paid the bill. I had some time to kill...