Chapter Seven: Lunch with Michael:

We made it to the Anna Miller. Despite the stop, I still didn�t let go of Sappoto-san�s arm. (I still didn�t think she would stay put if I did. But then again, she never wandered off in strange places. So innocent like a little child. That�s what childhood damage can do to you.) I looked through the glass doors as I caught my breath.

�See him yet?� I asked my traveling buddy.

�No,� she said.

�Are you even looking?�

�Yes. They just all look the same to me.�

�Sappoto-san! That is prejudice!�

�But it�s true!�

�Just keep looking.� She said nothing and looked inside the restaurant. I saw Michael sitting at the bar near the counter.

�I see him! Let�s go!� I said. I pushed open the door and dragged Sappoto-san inside. Michael looked up and saw us. A smile came onto his face.

�Hello ladies,� he said. �Have you changed your mind?�

�Yes we have,� I said in English. He turned to Sappoto-san. She kept looking down at the floor. Michael looked at me oddly.

�What�s with her?� he asked.

�Oh,� I brushed off. �She�s just really shy.� Michael only nodded.

�Are you hungry?� he asked. �They have really good food here.� I shrugged.

�Well�� I said. �We haven�t eaten since breakfast� okay.� The marine smiled at us as he patted a stool next to him.

�Come take a seat. Lunch is on me,� he offered. I dragged Sappoto-san with me as I did so. The waitress came out to counter. She looked at us for a moment; then she turned to our marine.

�Are these the new friends that were joining you?� she asked.

�Yes ma�am,� he answered. �Stick whatever they order on my tab.� The waitress looked over at Sappoto-san and I. I gave her a little wave as Sappoto-san looked down at her feet.

�Right,� the waitress said. �I�ll be with you a second.� She disappeared to the back. When the waitress returned, she had two new menus in her hand. We took them with smiles on our faces. (Or, at least I had a smile on my face.) I opened up the menu and began looking at the contents. I�m not in a mood for a big meal. Maybe I�ll get something small instead. Let�s see� I began to over the appetizers and side deals. This place doesn�t have anything interesting at the moment. I turned to my co-traveler.

�What are you getting?� I asked her. Sappoto-san looked at me, confused.

�It�s all confusing to me,� she whispered. I was about to ask how when I realized that most of the menu was in English with Katakana in tiny print under it. Sappoto-san spoke again.

�I just wish I had my glasses with me,� she said. I looked around for a moment for a substitute. I found an empty glass near the napkin holder. I held it over the menu.

�Better?� I asked. Sappoto-san looked at the Katakana in joy.

�Thank so much,� she said. I smiled at her.

�Sure,� I said. We both red the menu until the waitress came back around to us.

�You ready to order?� she asked. I sat up in a snap.

�Yes ma�am!� I replied. She pulled out a notebook and began writing them down.

�What would you like to drink?�

�Green tea,� we both said. Our waitress wrote it all down.

�Hot or cold?�

�Hot.�

�Sweet or bitter?�

�Sweet,� I said.

�Bitter,� Sappoto-san answered. I looked at her oddly. Why does that woman always want her tea bitter? The waitress finished writing our drink orders.

�Good, I�ll be with you in just a moment.� She disappeared into the back again. I tried to watch and see what she was doing back there, but a grass-style curtain obsecured my view. So, I turned back to our new Marine friend.

�So, is Okinawa nice here in the summer?� I asked.

�Absolutely!� he said as he was finishing up his pie. �It�s so beautiful here. My girlfriend has even taken up gardening recently because of it. I�ll show you her garden later tonight.�

�Cool,� I said. The waitress came back with teas.

�Here you are,� she said. We gracefully took our teas. I blew on mine before taking a sip. The waitress smiled at us.

�Good?� she asked.

�Yes ma�am!� I chirped. �And I think we�re ready to order.� The waitress smiled.

�Great,� she said. �What would you ladies want?�

�I�ll have an order fries,� I said.

�Just fries?� she asked.

�Just fries.� The waitress wrote down my order. Then, she turned to Sappoto-san.

�And you?�

�I�ll have a mushroom burger with fries.� I sat there in surprise as the waitress wrote down her order. Whoa! Sappoto-san is finally loosening up. This is a good thing now. Maybe this trip will go so much easier. The waitress finished writing down Sappoto-san�s order.

�No problem,� she said. �I will be back with your orders shortly.� Then, she disappeared into the back once more. I patted my traveling buddy on the shoulder.

�You�re finally opening up!� I said. �I�m so proud of you.� Sappoto-san blushed at my compliment.

�I�m sorry,� she said as she bowed her head.

�No, no,� I said. �This is good.� Sappoto-san looked up at me slightly surprised.

�Really?� she asked.

�Yeah,� I said, nodding. For once on this whole trip, she actually smiled. I saw my good friend, Obuchi Sappoto-san, smiling. Now that I think about it, she looks rather cute, smiling. She should smile more often! I felt myself blushing all of a sudden. Oh crap, I�m starting to feel my old attractions flaring up again. Quick, think about something unattractive. Think about T.J. and Tony making out. Yeah, that works! I shut my eyes tightly and shook my head.

�Is there a problem?� someone asked me. I quickly opened my eyes. Michael stared at me oddly. I sat back nervously. Suddenly, I felt so stupid.

�Oh, no!� I said quickly. �Nothing�s wrong! Everything is just fine!� *Big ol� sweat drop on my head as I try and laugh it all off* Damn, I wish the food would get here. I got my wish soon enough when the waitress came back with my fries and Sappoto-san�s burger and fries.

�Yay! Food!� I cheered in relief. I grabbed a couple of fries and stuffed them into my mouth. Michael just smiled and laughed before he took a sip of his root beer. Sappoto-san began to eat her own fries. Good, crisis adverted. Now, Michael won�t think I�m some fucking psycho. I hope�