Walking through the busy street with Eve and Clover in the early morning, I feel like we are walking through a festival or something. People were everywhere and everything was bustling around us as everyone hurries about their day to do things they need to get done.
Vehicles were more crowded than ever as it is not common to expect road rage, but instead people honking at each other over minor issues, causing chaos in traffic. It would take forever before one could drive across town without getting stuck behind someone who is too slow and going below the speed limit.
Luckily for us, we arrived in Manhattan just in the nick of time before more cars became crowded on the roads and highways. As for us, me and my two companions are mainly following me from behind in silence, glancing around this city’s many sights that can be seen.
There were buildings of various sizes, all tall and majestic looking with their own unique and modern architectural designs. There were also some large skyscrapers towering above the rest, with some even having an elevator installed inside their building so people will have access to their floors.
Passing aside the walking pedestrians on the sidewalk, we also have noticed some tents and tables with chairs set up on some spots of the streets, and based on the appearance of them; it is safe to say that homeless people and drug addicts are staying there. Some were lying down and passed out, while others looked like they were trying hard to stay awake as if fighting off the sleepiness.
And most of all, those poor souls who are addicted to drugs are everywhere. I saw a man holding his head and snorting something white that is wrapped in plastic, and another guy was sitting against the wall next to the alleyway where he tried smoking crack cocaine from what looks like a glass pipe.
Another specific individual that caught my eye was a skinny and dirty pregnant woman who looked like a meth head with her sunken eyes and hair as she sat on the ground and huffing something from a small piece of paper.
“Is this New York?” Eve interrupted my silence, “I never thought I would see such an interesting place.”
Clover nodded and smiled at the sight before him. “Yeah, it is amazing, isn’t it maiden? This is one of the biggest cities in this frozen wasteland.” He said with excitement, “The only problem is how corrupt and dangerous it can be. Just keep your guard up when you are here lads and lass, for there are some shady individuals that lurk around these parts.”
Eve couldn’t help but raised her brows from the comment as she stared back at Clover. “Corrupt?” She asked curiously, “the city looks fine,” she added with a hint of doubt in her voice.
I intruded in their conversation, “you guys want to sit on a bench and talk about this? Not a good idea to do this while walking, we might end up in the middle of nowhere or getting lost,” I suggested.
They both nodded and followed me as we continued to pass through the walking crowd. As soon as we arrived at a quiet corner in the sidewalk, we sat down on a wooden bench that is meant for three people with an space between us.
“What did you mean by corrupt?” Eve repeated the questioned again, “the city looked anything but that.” Clover sighed and leaned forward, “well lass, the city may look ordinary and normal at the outside but the inside, it is full of corruption and evil. It’s like a rotting corpse that stinks of death,” he answered, “there are increasing homeless people who beg for money, drugs addicts, thieves, muggers, murderers and rapists in every nook and cranny of this city.”
Can’t argue with that, I took out a cigar from my coat pocket and lit it up before placing the said cigar between my lips and inhaled. The smell of tobacco filled the air and I exhale slowly, “you know what Eve?” I commented, “that sounds just like New York City.”
Eve’s eyes widened in surprise, “what do you mean? How does New York have anything to do with this place?” she asked.
I smiled slightly, “it is not only a city that has corruption, crime and all of those nasty things that lurk within its dark corners. Like what the midget said, it is also filled with evil in every nook and cranny of this city.” I replied, “and in the end, it is just like any city in this world; cold, cruel and merciless.”
After having said that, the cold silence between us made me feel uncomfortable. I glanced back at Eve and saw her staring down at the ground, lost in thought. It appears as if the topic we talked about before did not really sink into either of our heads and now, it is a dead issue like a rotting corpse left to rot.
“And Clover, I thought you were never that knowledgeable about this city” I asked while breaking the silence, “what gives?” The little man chuckled lightly, “I did told you before that I had visited this city since I last went out. This place is full of surprises, do you not think so?” he responded.
I sighed, “well, it does not matter anymore,” puffing on my cigar as I stood up, “we should go, how about we dine in some restaurant? We are hungry enough to eat something right now.”
Clover nodded and Eve was still lost in thoughts. We walked along the streets for a while until we arrived at the nearest diner that can be seen from the outside, “this looks like a good place,” I commented as I opened the door with one hand, pushing it aside to enter inside.
The moment we entered, I immediately felt warm air being blown through us. A large window was placed in front of us where people could see the diners and waitresses working there but most importantly, they could watch their food being cooked. It also provided a view of the kitchen itself.
Eve stared around curiously, “this place is quite…luxurious?” she questioned, looking at all the interior design. The walls were painted white while the floor tiles were black, giving off an overall feeling of elegance. In addition, all tables and chairs are made of wood and have been stained with a dark brown shade to give them more character.
“It certainly is young lady!” Clover replied as he too took a look at the restaurant, “it feels like we are dining in a fancy place, even though this might cost our wallets.” He added with a grin, making me chuckle lightly.
“Lets look for the receptionist, the front desk would have an information about the menu and other things,” I said as we headed towards the back side of this inside restaurant. After walking through a hallway, the front desk was right at the far side of us.
“Hello!” A female receptionist wearing pink hair bows greeted us from afar with a smile on her face, “how may I help you three today?” She asked in a friendly voice, sitting behind the front desk of hers.
I walked up to the counter and addressed the woman, “we are interested in dining here, may you have the honor to guide us in finding a table?”
The woman nodded, turning around and leading us further inside the establishment, “follow me please,” she said while gesturing for us to follow, leading us through another hallway. The hallways were filled with a substantial number of people, both male and females alike with various ages and appearances.
From our short walk, the receptionist eventually led us in front of an empty table with a number tag on it. “Here are you sit,” she spoke as we sat down, making Eve and Clover sit beside each other and myself sit opposite of them. After we had sat, the waitress approached us, smiling brightly while the receptionist walked away, leaving us alone.
“What can I get you guys?” The waitress inquired politely, holding her wooden clipboard attached with paper sheet and pen, “I am not sure if you are familiar with the menu, but here’s what we serve,” she started to explain the different food that they offer, “we have our regular meals like the steak, pork chops, lamb and many more. Anything you ask, we should have it.”
Hmm, numerous choices to choose from. But then again, I am a simple man who prefers the basics. “I will go for the usual, a burger, fries and some plain soda of any kind.” I answered the woman, making her smile as she wrote my order on the paper sheet, “what you two?” She asked Eve and Clover.
“Just rice and steak with water,” Eve spoke out loud with a serious tone, causing the waitress to nod, “that is all, thanks.” Eve said before looking at Clover, “and you, Clover?”
The little leprechaun grinned, turning at the waitress with his green eyes, “aye, I’d like two four large size of beer, ten roasted chicken breasts, six pieces of buffalo chicken wings, nine turkey legs dipped with honey and spice, five pounds of fried shrimp, one pound of deep-fried lobster tail, twelve large slices of cheesecake, three chocolate cake, eight ice cream sandwiches, a whole box of assorted cookies and brownies, seven boxes of popcorn, thirty pieces of fries mixed with cheese sauce, a gallon of strawberry milk, two bottles of cola and a jug of orange juice, six bags of chips, a half dozen bagels, twenty packets of peanuts and two doughnuts of chocolate and mint, five packs of sushi, ten rolls of bread, two loaves of white bread and two loaves of rye, fifty pounds of salad, four bananas, three cartons of milk, twenty oranges, fifty apples, thirty pears, five buckets of vanilla yogurt, eighty-eight eggs, one hundred tomatoes and fifteen pounds of bacon.”
Clover continued to list down the food he wanted in his mouth until I couldn’t help but laugh as Eve let out a small giggle. The waitress, however did not find this amusing or funny in the slightest, she glared at him with look of questioning intent, “is this joke?” She asked bluntly while scratching her head, “because if it is not a joke, then I am afraid that you have to pay a lot for that amount sir.”
He retorted with heartfelt laughter before answering back with a smile, “why not lady?! Little old me is starving! Besides, it is not everyday that I get to eat all these delicious foods!” He exclaimed proudly as Eve and I chuckled lightly and shook our heads from his antics.
The waitress frowned at him, contemplating whether she should call security or actually taking the order. If the off chance that the little man was not jokingly and would pay that amount, it would greatly help her and the business of the restaurant.
“Very well sir, we will take your orders,” she bowed before quickly walking away, likely to the kitchen for the preparation of our orders.
While I, on the other hand, have question about his outlandish list of food, “Clover, were you joking or plain stupid?” I ask him while staring at him with a concerned look, as if he could read my mind. “Because I do not think that anyone would be capable of eating such large quantities, let alone pay them,” I added with worry in my voice.
Deciding to get the answer before he does, I quickly analyzed his body language, mainly his current facial expression. And to my disbelief, Clover is telling the truth! “You are serious? That much money and food?” I asked him again after thinking over what he just said.
He nodded with a nod, smiling widely as his eyes are sparkling, seemingly excited by the idea of eating his list of food from his order, “of course, lad. And do not worry about the cost, I have numerous gold in my pockets.” He claimed proudly, earning himself another puzzled look from me.
However, I suppose what he said is true since he is a leprechaun. And in addition, he told me about having a stack of gold he can carry around and use as currency. Perhaps he got some sort of fortune or something that he has been keeping inside his pants pocket for decades, waiting for the right time to spend it. Or I am just over thinking about this.
In any case, I am not going to question him anymore because there is nothing else to be done. And when I turned to Eve out of just curiosity in my mind, she was…smiling towards me. A genuine smile on her face as if she is happy seeing me. Her usual bored and natural demeanor is temporary gone, replaced with a simple, warm and caring expression.
I wonder why she is looking at me like that?
