Watermelon Juice

“Duuude,” Nader groaned, flopping both hands on the Orangebee’s table. “When? Why? How? What about me! Where are my powers?”

“Mmm, I dunno. Watch, I’ll do it again.” Raphael scrunched his face, opened his eyes, and pouted when he saw time passing normally. “It didn’t work . . .”

“Maybe there’s a refractory period. Dude, did you wish for this for your birthday and it literally came true? Is that what you did?”

“No. I didn’t do anything, I dunno how this happened. Didn’t even realize I could do it until I went poop and had to give a hard push. The music stopped when I made time stop, and then the toilet didn’t flush because time was stopped. Should I go make sure it flushed?” Raphael asked, concerned.

“Dude! No, that doesn’t matter. We gotta figure out how it works, how often you can use it, if there are any side effects, and how I can get powers too!” Nader’s grin faltered for a split second before he caught it. “Dude, powers are real.”

“Maybe it was the Siesta Lime Chicken?” Raphael asked, looking down at his meal. “Want some?”

Nader had never grabbed a fork so fast in his entire life. He scooped a few quick mouthfuls before stopping to take a good look at the plate. “Wowthisreallyisgood,” he mumbled.

“Right!?” Raphael watched as his friend ate the maybe-magic chicken.

“Okay, now what?” Nader wiped his mouth and shook his hands out, ready to receive the power.

“Now you poop. I think. That’s what worked for me.”

“Okay, be right back. Don’t use your powers without me.”

“Okayokayokay hurry up!” Raphael shooed Nader away from the table, watched him make his way toward the bathroom, and then looked back at his meal. There wasn’t much left, so he finished it.

“You and your friend doing okay? Anything else I can get ya?” the waitress asked, walking back up to the table.

“Yeah, umm, could I get another Siesta Lime Chicken meal?”

“You want another full Siesta Lime Chicken? It’ll be full price, not part of the Two-For-Twenty-Four . . .”

“Yeah! That’s fine. Thanks.” Raphael smiled as she walked away.

A few minutes passed.

What’s going on, is he constipated? Raphael picked at the few remaining grains of rice on his plate, eating them . . . just in case. Should I try stopping time again? He wanted to, but he promised he’d wait. Glancing toward the restroom, he saw Nader making his way back to the table. Finally! Hmm? He had never seen Nader look so disappointed.

“Well, I pooped. At least I’ve got that going for me.” Nader plopped down heavily into the cushioned booth. “Man . . .”

“Dude, it’s okay. Maybe you’ll get them on your birthday, yeah?” Raphael said, uncertain but hopeful. “I know what’ll cheer you up!” He scrunched his face and then disappeared.

Nader sighed. This was the coolest thing to ever not happen to him.

Twenty minutes passed, and the waitress came over. “So sorry about the wait, the kitchen is backed up. Here’s that extra Siesta Lime Chicken your friend ordered and a couple extra strawberry lemonades on the house.”

“Thanks,” Nader said curtly, smiling half-heartedly as she set everything down and then walked away. He pushed his Four Cheese Chicken Penne off to the side and took his buddy’s fresh hot meal. Maybe this one will give me powers? He knew he was being silly as soon as he thought it, but what was there to lose?

“Hey! That’s my chicken!” Raphael appeared, standing next to their table with both hands behind his back.

“Dude, where’d you go? It’s been like twenty minutes, what took you so long?”

“I got us our favorite drink . . . Watermelon Juice from Chia Express,” he said, revealing the drinks from behind his back and placing them on the table cheerfully.

“Ohhhkay . . . that’s like, across the street. Twenty minutes?”

“Long line, and they still had to make it. Time powers don’t make lines any shorter, duh!”

“Ah . . .” Nader looked at the drink and smiled weakly. “Thanks, buddy. You really know how to cheer a muggle up,” he said as he reached for the drink.

“Yeah, well, if they invite me to Hogwarts I’m bringing you with me, no matter what they say!” Raphael grabbed his watermelon juice and held it out.

“Hah! I’ll cheers to that.” Nader smiled as they clinked their plastic watermelon juice cups and took a long refreshing drink. This is fine. He’s my best friend, Nader reassured himself . . . Right?