Page 156 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

We girls are enjoying fancy drinks tonight and the guys
– more beer. We’ll have some wine with dinner, just like
proper adults. She’s brought us some warm bread and butter
too. Yum. The guys dive in like they haven’t eaten all day.
More laughing and talking. Our table is literally abuzz with
energy and celebration. There’s a tantalizing aroma of grilled
steak permeating the restaurant. I am finally feeling hungry
now, especially smelling that pungent garlic.
“Everybody stay still! Nobody move! Nobody’s going to
get hurt. Just stay still!”
We all freeze. Oh my God! There are two men in balaclavas!
And they have guns! What the hell? For real?
An immediate hush comes over the restaurant. We’re
too far away to hear what the robbers are mumbling to the
woman overseeing the cash register. The two of them are
standing very close to her. It looks like she is emptying
the contents of the till. The four of us sit motionless, like
zombies. Nobody breathes. I swear I can feel everyone’s
pulse. I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.
Is this some sort of sick joke? Is this for real or have we
entered the Twilight Zone?
Maybe all the drugs and booze are sending me over the
edge? If I could, I would pinch myself. But I can’t. I cannot
move one inch. Those guys with guns said, “Nobody move!”
Quickly and quietly the thieves empty the till and dash
out the front door. I am speechless. Numb. And wrecked!
My adrenalin is surging and I just want to get the hell out
of here. The last thing I want to do now is eat! We are all
rattled to the core. But thank God we’re safe!
Within a few short minutes the police arrive on the
scene. Two cops. They waste no time. “Listen up, everyone.
We want you to stay where you are. We’ll be coming around

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