"It sounds perfect for you, Bastian," his mom told him. "It doesn't just get you out of the house, but it gets you some new friends and some spending money of your own."
"Please say yes," Atreyu pleaded. "Don't leave me stuck in the trailer with the old folks all summer."
"Old?" both mothers questioned.
"I can only bring the tent if you come with us, because there wouldn't be room for the two of us in the camper," Atreyu continued while ignoring the comments of the women. "If you agree to work with us, you and I can share the tent. It's a nice one, too. It's got plenty of room for the two of us," he added.
"It was sold as a four person tent," his mom pointed out. "The only way that thing could hold four people is if they were all six years old. As it is there will only be a couple of inches between their bed rolls, but that won't bother two boys."
"It sure won't be a problem for me," Atreyu confirmed. Bastian looked up at his new friend at that statement. "I just want to get away from Dad's snoring."
"You have a point," Lindsay said. "Maybe I should squeeze into the tent with you guys."
"No!" Atreyu blurted quickly. "I mean, you married him, so you're stuck with it now."
"Could I think about it for a while?" Bastian finally spoke up.
"How long would you need to think?" Lindsay questioned. "Atreyu's right, we do need someone soon. I really should be working the sausage wagon with Jack now. With no one trained on this machine but me, I have to stay here, though."
"Well, I don't mind working this while I think it over," Bastian offered. "Atreyu can stay and keep me company and I can start showing him how to do it while I'm at it."
"I appreciate that," Lindsay said with a smile. "I just haven't had the time to show Atreyu the basic operations. If you could do that, then even if you don't decide to work with us, at least he has some knowledge of the machine."
"Well, I don't want to keep anyone from their work," Lesley announced suddenly. "Bastian if you are sure about this, I will leave you to it, then. I expect you to behave yourself and do whatever Lindsay or her husband tell you just as if me or Dad were the one talking."
"I know, Mom," Bastian assured her.
"Lindsay, I want you and your family to come to our house for dinner tonight," his mom insisted. "That gives Bastian a ride home, and us a chance to get back together."
"Well, let me check one thing first before I say yes to that," Lindsay responded. She looked at Bastian and asked, "Did your mother's cooking skills improve since I knew her?"
"What do you mean?" Bastian replied. "Mom's a great cook."
"Oh that's a relief," Atreyu's mother sighed. "The last time I saw your mother try to cook anything, she was trying to make Ramen noodles and she let the water burn out of the Corning Ware dish."
Bastian's mother blushed and burst out laughing. "You would remember that, wouldn't you?" She looked at the boys questioning faces and explained. "Bear in mind, I was in junior high back then. I started the water on the stove top, but then The Dating Game came on television. I had such a crush on Chuck Woolery. I forgot about the water on the stove completely."
"She ruined the dish," Lindsay confirmed. "Instead of being flat on the bottom, it rocked like a bowl after that."
"My mother insisted that I not be allowed in the kitchen alone for a long time after that," Lesley admitted. "She and I developed a much closer relationship after that, though. She taught me everything she knew about cooking and taking care of a family."
"Is that why you do such a good job of it?" Bastian asked sincerely.
"Why, thank you, baby," his mother gushed. "That is exactly why I spend so much time doing for you guys around the house. Mom taught me that if you love someone, then everything you do for them should be your very best effort."
"Your mom was always the greatest," Lindsay observed. "Do you see her often?"
"No, we lost Mom while I was pregnant with Bastian's little sister," Lesley answered. "It was very sudden, a heart attack. The shock caused me to lose the baby. We named her Lindsay."
Naturally that started the waterworks for both mothers all over again. Bastian felt bad for his mom, but he had heard the story before and even vaguely remembered a memorial service for the baby. The women recovered and left the booth finally after both telling their sons to be careful, and courteous. The boys gladly waved their mothers away finally.
"Well, if you're going to work the stand, you really should have a logo shirt," Atreyu pointed out. "You could wear mine if you don't mind. I mean it's kind of sweaty, but it's all we've got right now."
"I don't mind, I guess," Bastian answered taking the offered shirt. "You could wear my shirt if you want. It's pretty soggy too, though."
"I don't care," Atreyu told him quickly. "I have to have a shirt on if I am going to be near the machine, and I'm pretty sure you can't teach me how to work it from thirty feet away."
"You have a point, there," Bastian agreed. He reached down and grabbed the hem of his shirt and peeled the garment off, handing it to Atreyu. He had to call the boy's name twice before he got him to accept the shirt. The fact that Atreyu was staring at his exposed chest was not lost on Bastian. "Do I look good?" he whispered so that any customers nearby wouldn't hear.
"Good enough to eat," Atreyu answered absently. He realized instantly what he had said, and blushed hotly. He started stammering out some sort of defense. Just then a customer walked up to the counter.
"Well if it isn't the little fag," the teenaged boy sneered.