Chapter 11

I’d just finished throwing on a pair of jeans and a casual button-down shirt, perfect for going out to lunch on a Saturday, and headed into the front room.

“Good morning David,” greeted Ruth cheerfully, who was already up and working on a new project. It was gray.

“Morning,” I replied. “Trying something a little different?” I asked, pointing at her using knitting needles instead of her usual crochet hooks.

“Yes. I think that knitting makes better sweaters.” The outside corners of her eyes upturned a bit. I’d learned that was the natural version of a minotaur’s smile, and that the one she forced for most other people was actually difficult for her to do and had taken a lot of practice. In the several weeks since I’d moved in I’d become more familiar with a bunch of her other facial expressions and body language too. I flashed her a grin of my own.

“Alright, I look forward to seeing it when it’s done!” Her eyes upturned even higher. “Anyway, I’m headed out.”

“Where are you going?”

“To have lunch with my sister. I haven’t seen her since I moved in.”

“Have fun. I might see if Sara wants to get lunch too.”

“You do that!” I exclaimed. Then I left, whistling on my way out the door.

A short while later I made it across town to an old pub that Jill and I used to frequent.

“Hey, Stranger!” I turned around and saw my sister walking up right as I was about to go inside.

“Hey, yourself!” I teased. We closed the distance and hugged tightly for a few seconds. After that I held the door and we walked in.

After only a couple minutes wait we were seated at a corner booth and were sipping on a couple beers.

“How’ve you been?” I asked. “Work still keeping you busy?” Jill snorted.

“Yep. I should have never accepted the promotion to department manager. Nothing but more hours and not enough money to compensate!”

“Ugh, that’s rough!”

“Yeah. This is the first Saturday I’ve had off in a month!”

“Yikes!”

“I think I’ll stay for another year or so and then try to get something better. The position does look good on a resume.” She shook her head with a sighed and turned her attention to me. “Enough about that, how are you doing?”

“Honestly, I’m doing great.” Her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Really? I take it having a roommate’s going pretty well then?”

“It is, Ruth’s really easy to get along with. Things were a little tense for the first couple weeks, but it’s much better now.”

“I’m really glad to hear that,” replied Jill, who was clearly relieved. “I was a bit worried with her being a minotaur and all.”

“I was more worried about her being a woman!” I joked.

“Hey!” She tried swatting at me from across the table, but we both laughed when her arms didn’t reach.

“Hello, I’m Leslie,” greeted the waitress who had walked up. She tried unsuccessfully trying to conceal a chuckle. “Do we know what we’re having?”

“I’ll have a barbecue burger with sweet potato fries,” ordered Jill.

“And I’ll have a turkey reuban with onion rings,” I added. When the waitress left I turned back my sister, who was looking at me funny. “What?”

“I’ve never known you to pass an opportunity to get a burger.”

“Uhh...” I stared blankly for a moment. “I haven’t had one since I moved.” Jill blinked in confusion. “When I first met with Ruth about being roommates she asked me to never bring beef into the apartment.”

“Oh!” She exclaimed as it clicked. “I guess that would be kind of like us eating a monkey ... You could still have it here though, can’t you?”

“Yeah, but I’ve gotten used to life without it.” I chuckled as I decided to drop a bombshell. “I’ve been making vegetarian meals more often than not lately anyway!” I laughed as Jill’s mouth hung open for a second. “A few weeks ago I started cooking for both me and Ruth.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. A couple nights ago I made a meatless chili with red cabbage slaw on the side.”