Chapter 8 - Page 108 - Talking Eyes

    Jim turned his head up so he could see Rhasha’s face. “Is that right?” he said. “Well, I’m fixin’ to buck you off.”

    She kissed him on the forehead. “Oh Jim, I was just starting to have fun.”

    “Angel,” he reasoned, “how are you going to eat, sitting on my shoulders?”

    “That’s no problem, Jim. Just send me a plate of food up here. I’ll set it on top of your head.”

    With that, Jim placed his right arm under Rhasha’s right leg and pushed out, slipping her leg around his arm. Then he pushed her left leg off, and she slid down Jim’s back until her feet landed on the floor.

    “You wasn’t a very good horse anyway,” she said. “You didn’t make any horsy sounds.”

    Jim and Rhasha’s antics had amused several of the diners, who smiled as Jim and Rhasha went from table to table, saying hello to everyone. They ended their tour at the dining hall door, where Rhasha kissed her family good-bye and Jim shook their hands just before Thamish, Thasha, and Robbie left.

    The dining hall served all meals in buffet style, so people could choose what they wanted to eat. The elderly and the weak were served by a generous staff of volunteers. Jim, Rhasha, and Jackie each picked up a plate and made their choices from a healthy selection then, loaded plates in hand, they looked around for an empty table. Only one table was vacant. It was located in the center of the dining hall. They made their way to the vacant table and sat down to eat.