We set off for Hesper's branch of PolyBurger, a fast food chain that specialised in double, triple of quadruple burgers. Naturally it wasn't the healthiest, but sometimes a big greasy feast was just what was needed. And now, even though I'd just eaten, I was in the mood for a slap-up meal.
The PolyBurger wasn't too busy; a post-lunch lull had set in, but there were a few people at the tables. The inhabitants of my hometown, I'd noticed, liked their food, and there tended to be a larger-than-usual proportion of overweight Hesperites. PolyBurger's clientele were no exception, in fact quite the reverse. Two teen girls in band t-shirts that hugged their large breasts and chunky bellies sat giggling by the window, a family of round-faced children greedily stuffed their faces with MultiMeals and raced their free toy dinosaurs up and down the table as their matronly mother looked on smilingly, and a college student with a Hesper Tech hoodie over the back of his chair and a stomach like a fat basketball munched his fries while intent on a hefty textbook.
Dmitri and I joined waited behind a guy placing a large and complicated-seeming order. As we were waiting, I happened to notice a "HELP WANTED" sign up by the counter. I nudged him, and pointed. "Maybe we should get jobs here," I said, half-jokingly. "Wonder if employees get free food?"
"I bet they do," said Dmitri, enviously; everyone behind the counter was on the plumper side. As the guy in front moved away with a tray heaped high, we moved up to the register, where we were greeted by a smiling brunette with chubby, freckled cheeks and quite phenomenal breasts. I tried not to stare, letting Dmitri order for both of us, instead focussing on a wall tile and going bright red. "Yeah, uh, two triple bacon cheeseburgers with fries and chocolate milkshakes. And the same for my friend here," he added, jerking his thumb at me. I involuntarily turned my head to meet the girl's look, but managed to avoid the eyes and hit her nametag instead. "Julie", said the badge pinned to her E-cup bosom.
"No problem," said Julie cheerfully, and retrieved our food. We paid, and took our trays off to sit at the table behind the college student. As soon as we sat down, Dmitri started eating, laying into me between bites.
"Jesus, dude, what are we going to do with you? You couldn't even look at that girl. How are you ever gonna get laid?"
"Whatever," I said, starting into my first burger. "I wish you hadn't gotten me two of these, I'll never be able to finish them."
"I'll help you, if you want," said Dmitri eagerly. "Hey, were you serious about applying for jobs here?"
"I dunno," I said. "I was kind of wondering what I was going to do for the rest of the summer. It's not like I need the money, my parents still wire me what I ask for. But getting to eat here all the time would be... pretty cool..." My eyes drifted back over to Julie and her nametag. Dmitri snorted derisively, and I blushed again and took a sip from my first milkshake.
"I wish you hadn't got me chocolate, too," I said. "I prefer banana."
"Well, go order a couple of banana ones then," he said. "I'll drink these. Hey," he perked up, a thought occurring. "What about this – go up there, and while you're up there, ask her out!"
"You're crazy," I said, dipping a french fry in ketchup.
"Crazy like a fox," said Dmitri, finishing the last of his first burger already.
"I'm no expert, but foxes aren't usually as fat as that," I rejoined.
"You know, all things considered, it's lucky that you are a pussy, considering you're never going to get any," Dmitri said contemplatively. "Just go up there and ask her for her number. If she says no, big deal. We eat pizza the next few days. If she says no, well, that'll present it'll own set of problems, but it'd be worth it to get a better look at those tits."
"All right," I said suddenly, getting up. "Why not?" I got to my feet and walked over to the register, despite the fact that my legs had suddenly turned to jelly.
"Hi!" said Julie brightly. "Did you need something else?"
I looked around wildly, looking at anything else – the menu, the HELP WANTED notice, the nametag – what to do?!