“Dude. You see that squirrel over there?” Jack looked at his watch. Twelve-fifteen. Usually he’s halfway through morning shift at the coffee shop.
“Yeah? What about it?” Leonard passed off to him, he paused before replying.
“It’s freaking beautiful,” Jack said on a flow of breath.
“Dude. You’re right. It’s like, a supermodel squirrel.” Leonard giggled. “The whole park n’ woods is like, exquisite today, you know?”
“Becca’s Mom got a fever. Nearly one oh four.” Jack passed back.
After a pause, “Damn.”
“Yeah.” The park was beautiful today. If you overlooked the emptiness and chained playground equipment. “What would you be doing today?”
“It’s fry day. I’d be in back with twenty pounds.”
“You ain’t missin’ that.”
“I kinda am.” Leonard stared toward the squirrel. “One of the waitresses is hot. Think she likes me, too.”
“Tough time to be a single man.” Jack was glad he had Becca.
The squirrel still perched on the tree, staring directly at them, unafraid. Maybe it thought they had food. Too bad all they had was barley, hops and herb.
“I feel like we should be doing something right now,” Jack said. Squirrely bobbed his head along with his words. Darn thing was a brown rainbow.
“Dude, it’s a freaking pandemic. We’re doing it.”
Jack thought about that. No running from the coffee shop to his evening classes then home to take over Madison while Becca did her evening shift. Now, Becca was home reading to their daughter.
“Hand me a beer?”