Story in Reverse
My hands were shaking when I sat back down to eat my ice cream. I didn't want the twins to notice so I kept my spoon against the side of the cup when I wasn't using it. The drunks were outside now and seemed to be on their way.
I felt bad for the quieter one. It was cold outside and the coffee was still wet on his clothes. He tried to calm his loud, angry companion but found words slower than circumstance was granting him.
The drunk bigot tried to apologize to me. I got his attention with my 'Dad' voice. I hoped the Vet would mistake it for 'Drill Instructor' voice. He still had the coffee cup in his hand, only half full now. Or half empty.
I came up, standing next to the South Asian manager. He'd told them to leave but they were more inclined to argue the point. The rhetoric was escalating. I have experience with this sort of thing.
I had hoped the big guy in the Blackhawks hat would make a move. He was by himself. I thought about getting in a fight with my kids there, but I didn't want them seeing things get out of hand while I did nothing, either.
He'd been in the army. He fought for this country. "Go the fuck back to India." He was a drunk, angry Cheech to his companion's ineffectual Chong. He started quietly, but his anger was built on a foundation of rage and would go as high as there was material to build with.
After swimming, all we wanted was some ice cream and donuts.