We follow directions from the GPS and get on California Highway 84 and head West toward Fremont and the deliciousness that is Red Lobster. Nancy turns on the Radio, hoping to catch some news on the earthquake and maybe the elusive weather report.
Instead we get the Ramones “Rockaway Beach.”
“Now, that is what I call music.”
“Dad, I like the Ramones too, but I really was looking to hear something about the quake. Besides, why are they singing about Broccoli Beach?”
“It’s Rockaway Beach, not Broccoli Beach!”
“Got you again Dad, you are sooooo gullible.”
As the chorus winds down, the DJ comes on and announces, “Looks like that last shaker was only a 3.5 and it’s looking like no more significant aftershocks are expected. And now a word from one of our sponsors; Come on down to Wally’s World of Wicker. Find us on old West 53rd street downtown San Jose. We’ve got wicker, all kinds of wicker, what kind of wicker would you like?”
“Nancy, do you think we could use some wicker in the sun room out back?”
“Dad, you really are starting to remember stuff, though maybe not all that accurately, because we never call it the sun room, we call it a three season room.”
“Right.”
Time passes rapidly and somehow we have traveled five minutes in real time, but ended up at in Fremont and I see the Red Lobster just off this exit. I really should see if I can get funding for the research of vehicular music and conversation based time travel. Is the controlling factor, the song on the radio or the relative silliness of the conversation being had while traveling. Anyway, I digress.
“Dad, I see the Red Lobster, were you paying attention, it looked like you were going to miss it.”
“Uhm no, I saw it, I was just contemplating the geographic topology of belly button lint.”
“Dad, you’re weird.”
We pull into the parking lot and head for the friendly familiarity of Red Lobster and its New England themed fish decor.
The greeter greets us and seats us off in a dark corner with menus. Luckily there is a nice candle in the center of our table providing soft light and ambiance.
“Hi, my name is Sally and I will be your server today, can I get you something to drink; lemonade, Pepsi products, iced tea?”
“I’ll stick with water, how about you Nancy?”
“Chocolate Milk please.”
“I’ll be right back with your drinks in a minute and then take your order.”
“Chocolate Milk, I definitely remember that, just don’t drink it all before your food gets here.”
“Dad, I grew out of that.”
We study our menus and I am pretty sure i will get the Shrimp special. Since that is out of the way, I think about the moon map we got from the fire extinguisher.
“Are you all set to order?”
“I’ll have the Shrimp special with the garlic mashed potatoes, how about you Nancy?”
“I’ll have the chicken tenders with ranch and the fries.”
After the server leaves, “Nancy, I told you so, chicken tenders.”
“Dad, just because I ordered chicken tenders does not mean that is all I ever order, remember you have amnesia.”
“Fine, I was thinking about the Moon map we found in the fire extinguisher.”
Nancy pulls out the map and we have a second look at and see nothing new.
“Careful Nancy, you’re getting it real close to the candle.”
“I know Dad, but I think I can see something faintly in the unlabeled part of the map when I get it close to the candle.”
“I wonder if it could be some sort of secret writing, you know invisible ink?”
I take the glass shield off from the candle on the table and good thing we are in a dark corner, otherwise other diners might start looking at us funny.
“Dad, I am making something out in that unmarked section of the map, some letters are coming through faintly.”
I grab another candle from the next table over and pass it back and forth on the back side of the map and on that side it starts to get a little brown, but Nancy says to keep going.
“Dad, keep heating, I think it is almost through.”
“Hey, you can’t do that in Red Lobster, besides I have your food here.”
“I think we are done with the candles anyways.”
I quickly jot down what showed on the map while Nancy puts the map away:
RLS
1883
TI#3
HP
Nancy and I eat our food, she pays the bill and we head back to the SUV.