Soft-Serve Ice Cream, $9.42...

Our family paid a visit to the local soft-serve emporium this evening. It's typical of small-town establishments of this type: a couple of walk-up windows and a line of tables underneath a long awning. Music from the 70s wafts from speakers placed at intervals under the awning. It's always a treat for us to visit the Frosty Boy and we all have our favorites concoctions. Mine is the blueberry sundae. Tonight, however I was lured away by a new product: the Whopper Flurry. But I am getting ahead of myself.

We parked the van and were walking between some cars on our approach to the line to place orders when this rather tall blond came wheeling toward us on her Heelies (shoes with wheels in the heels for the uninitiated). I didn't take much notice until she put her arms around young Grif. It seemed rather like they knew each other from somewhere. Grif looked somewhat stricken, being caught in public with his pathetic family. It wasn't easy, but we got some information from Grif. The young lady's name is Jessica. She plays the flute in the band (which is how Grif knows her). To hear Grif tell it, he hardly knows her. Had to think about what her name is. Being the sensitive parents that we are, and noticing Grif was a little uncomfortable, we walked over and struck up a conversation with the girl's mother. Mother and daughter were there with their standard poodle, Sterling (dogs get free ice cream at Frosty Boy). Grif continued to look a bit uncomfortable. And then Jessca spoke to Grif again and called him "Tiffy." I could tell Grif was silently praying for the trumpet call to signal the rapture and get him out of there. Jessica and her mother collected their ice cream and proceeded to find a table. After a few minutes we grabbed our order and, well, there seemed to be plenty of room at Jessica's table. Understanding that Grif would like to avoid any more contact and possible further utterances of "Tiffy," Bobbie and I sat right down with Jessica and her mom. We did get to hear her call him Tiffy again. When Grif didn't seem to be paying attention, I quietly said to Bobbie (barely moving my lips): "Ice cream, $9.42. Getting to experience the Jessica and Grif/Tiffy show, Priceless.