Dinner Time ...

Dani and Ainsley were standing behind the counter. The shoppe was unusually quiet for a Sunday night. They had most of the closing check lists done, so they took the lull to catch their breath and chat ...

"So, what have you done this weekend?" asked Dani, "aside from work."

"My family and I went to visit family up in Russell," said Ainsley, her face beaming with a big smile, "we left right after school and spent the night at the hotel there."

"Did you go swimming or skiing?" asked Dani sipping her coffee, her eyes locked on Alexis'.

"Both," said Ainsley, lifting her steamer to her mouth and taking a small sip before speaking, "we all went swimming on Friday night, then on Saturday we went skiing before the family supper ..."

"How was it?"

"It was nice," said Ainsley with a shrug, "but I prefer the hill here in Minnedosa. It's a little easier to navigate, and there are fewer hot doggers here."

"What about boys?" said Dani in a whisper, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "were there lots of boys up at the ski hill?" after a pause she smiled slyly and sipped her coffee as she winked at Ainsley over the rim of the mug as she spoke, "Bet there were lots ..."

"SHUT UP," said Ainsley, a red blush washing over her cheeks, "I don't want to talk about THAT ..."

"Oh there were boys ..." said Dani with a laugh, "otherwise you'd tell me."

"SHUT UP," said Ainsley, the red deepening on her cheeks.

"So," Dani, "what did you eat up there? When you weren't too busy flirting with the boys..."

"Shut up," Ainsley's face grew serious, but the grin pulling at the corners of her mouth and the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her mirth.

The two of them shared a laugh before Dani asked Ainsley again, "So did you guys go out for supper up there, or did you just eat at the hotel?"

"Oh we went to that pizza place that everyone talks about," said Ainsley eagerly, "Dad wanted to talk to the owner about advertising in Brandon, so we went there for dinner on Friday."

"How was it?" asked Dani, she reached up and adjusted the cordouroy hat perched on her head.

"It was good," said Ainsley, then with the snort of a stifled laugh she continued, "but get this. We ordered a pizza with a bunch of topping, but dad had an itch for fresh mushrooms, so he asked the waitress if they had fresh mushrooms to put on the pizza."

"Yeah?" asked Dani, leaning in slightly to listen, "and?"

"Well," Ainsley smiled as she continued, "She said 'oh yes sir, they are fresh mushrooms. I just opened the can when I came on an hour ago ...'" she paused and laughed, "can you believe it?"

"What did your dad say?"

"Not much," said Ainsley, "he was just shocked ..."

"I guess," said Dani.

"Dinner time with my family," said Ainsley turning to greet the customer who had just entered the shoppe, "it is what it is ..."