Everyone gathered around the rickety dining room table. The kitchen table was in desperate need of a table cloth. There were all kinds of abrasions and sticky spots on the table. Tina refrained from resting her tender arms on top of the squalid table. Theresa had forgotten to bring plastic ware to go along with the paper plates so they were stuck using Vinny's silver ware. Tina stared at her rusty fork that still had traces of chocolate icing on it.
Theresa picked up the tongs and doled out a small serving of spaghetti and meatballs on Mark's plate then placed a copious serving on Vinny's. Then she stretched her sallow arms across the table flourishing the tongs and staring at Tina's plate.
"Just say when honey." She said digging deep into the crock pot of spaghetti.
"When." Said Tina staring dubiously at the pile of spaghetti on her plate. She really didn't feel that hungry. Vinny had taken her out earlier to Ihops where she had her fill. She picked up her rusty fork but suddenly realized nobody had touched their food yet. Everybody bowed their heads and Mark said the blessing. He was sure to thank God for the food and who he thought was Sally's presence.
While Mark was praying Tina felt something warm and fuzzy nestle between her legs and then lick her hands. Since nobody was looking Tina grabbed a meatball and slid it underneath the table to Sparky. Vinny caught on to what she was doing and pushed the shocker button on his wrist watch. Tina jumped and let out a yelp startling everyone at the table.
"Honey are you okay?" Asked Theresa.
Vinny cut in before she could respond." Oh yeah, She's fine mom. Sally is very charismatic and can sometimes feel the holy spirit inside of her." Vinny leaned back in his chair taking pride in his bogus statement.
"That is so neat!" Said Theresa," What church do you go to?"
Vinny felt a big lump in his throat. This one was on Tina and she'd better come up with something fast. Tina looked at Vinny and he slighty nodded his head giving her permission to answer the question.
"I go to Heaven's Gate in Parkerton." She finally replied.
"Oh,okay. I've never heard of that church." Said Theresa slicing a meatball in half with her fork. Vinny already had most of his food eaten but Tina still hadn't taken a single bite. While Vinny's mother sliced her meatballs she mused whether or not this so called " Sally" girl really went to church. With her dyed hair, black lipstick, and dark eyeliner, Tina looked like something that just walked out of a rock concert.
Theresa put her fork down and picked up a paper napkin then wiped the tomato sauce from her lips."I just remembered something I wanted to tell you." She said looking at Vinny," I saw on the news that Judge Anderson's daughter has just been kidnapped."
Vincent stared down at his plate of spaghetti to hide the expression on his face." Oh?" He said trying to sound surprised.
"Yes that's what I heard. They say she was last seen jogging through a cemetery wearing a Hooters outfit. A Hooters outfit. Can you believe that Vinny? Somebody dressed like a slut deserves to get kidnapped." Theresa said sounding serious.
Vinny reddened in the face and couldn't help but put on a smile. He looked over at Tina who looked absolutely disgusted. Her opinion of Theresa changed faster than a bolt of lightning.
"I have a friend who works at Hooters." Piped up Tina. " Oh, I didn't mean to offend anybody honey. It's just that I was always taught to dress modestly." Said Theresa trying to take back her previous statement." Oh and there's more." She said looking concerned," They thought Patrick Adamson the city councilman had something to do with it but the judge's daughter's boyfriend has come up missing."
Tina felt a pang of anxiety race through her body like electrodes racing through a micro chip. Where was Steve? Did Vinny have something to do with Steve's disappearance? She looked over at Vinny and he had the audacity to give her a wink. Tina grabbed her napkin and spewed a tiny bit of food into it then then curled it into a ball and placed it next to her plate." Excuse me." She said getting up from the table.
"What's up with her?" Asked Theresa.
"Oh, I guess she's just not feeling too well." Said Vincent shoving the last few morsels of spaghetti into his mouth.