Fetuccini

“So, how is work?”

Ellie looked up at her mother, who was eating the fettuccini alfredo Ellie had ordered from the stupid upscale Italian restaurant her mother had insisted on. She had paused to ask Ellie that question, a question Ellie knew wasn’t a good question to ask.

“Um, good, I guess,” Ellie said, twirling her fork on the plate. She watched how the noodles moved farther away from her fork as it made larger and larger figure 8’s. I guess she got kind of hypnotized by it, because not long after, a bit of the pasta fell onto the table cloth. Ellie heard her mom make a small cluck of disapproval before saying “Are you just going stare at it, or are you going to clean it up?”

Ellie grabbed her napkin and began wiping the fallen noodles off the table, before setting her balled up napkin to the side. They continued eating, but Ellie felt her mom steal glances at her.

“What,” Ellie asked. Her mom just shrugged and went back to eating, ignoring Ellie.

Ellie went back to twirling her fork. All there was was the clinking of silverware on plates.

;

I was honestly just passing by. But, curious, I stopped at a restaurant. It was some fancy place, a place with all the forks and spoons, and one that I definitely couldn’t pay for. That wasn’t why I stopped.

I stopped because of the scene. It wasn’t anything bright or obvious, but I noticed this younger woman. She was maybe in her early thirties, and she was leaning over the table she was sitting at in the restaurant. There was a tiny vial or bottle that she was putting the contents of into the little cheese shaker.

It didn’t seem important, until I saw another woman who looked like an older version of the younger woman. As soon as the other woman came into view, the shaker was dropped back into its place and the younger woman sat up straight. There was definitely something suspicious or fishy going on.

;

“How is your work,” Ellie said, a bit more passive aggressive than she had meant. Her mother looked up, her face pinched. “It’s good. I bet it’s better than your sad job. What did you do again?”

Ellie groaned, but strained a smile at her mom. “I work at a pharmacy. A place that sells medicine?”

“And those death pills,” her mom said, pointing her fork at Ellie. Ellie groaned.

“Well, since you know so much about my job, is there anything else you’d like to teach me about,” Ellie said, glaring.

Her mom looked back down at her plate, took a bite, and said “Well, this sure could use some salt, or maybe some of that sprinkled cheese. You figure that out. I’m going to go talk to the chef about his plain food.”

Ellie watched as her mother stood up. This was the perfect opportunity.

;

The older woman sat down. I saw her say something to the younger woman. I couldn’t tell, but then I saw the younger woman smile. She reached over and handed the older woman the little shaker thing of mozzarella that’s usually at these restaurants.

I watched the exchange. The older woman rolled her eyes and took the shaker, then started shaking the cheese onto her plate. I looked at the younger woman, but she wasn’t eating or being normal.

She was watching as the flaked cheese landed on the other woman’s pasta. I could see something burning in her eyes as the older woman took a bite.

;

Ellie sat there for a minute. Was she really about to do this? Sure, her mom was a horrible person, but does she deserve to die?

Ellie didn’t know. What she did know was that she had to make a decision in the next few minutes. Her mom was probably going to be out soon.

Ellie thought for a second, the small vile warming in her hand as it sat in her pocket.

;

A few minutes later, the older woman began coughing. She was banging her chest, face turning red. In less than a few seconds, the older woman was on the ground of the restaurant, a crowd surrounding her. The younger woman was standing in the middle of the crowd, not speaking. I couldn’t tell if she seemed shocked, or nervous.

Everyone in the crowd watched as the red on the old woman’s face turned pale, and her eyes went blank.

I, personally, watched the young woman. She was looking, even as the group dispersed to call an ambulance, at the other woman. A small tear ran down her cheek.

Before I knew it, she was running out the doors of the restaurant, and right into me.

;

Ellie watched as her mom came back. She sat down, picking up her fork. “I hope you did figure out the cheese thing,” she said. Ellie nodded, smiling. Ellie handed her mom the mozzarella shaker, eyes on her mom the whole time. She watched as her mom took a bite of the fettuccini, twirling her fork in the saucy noodles. She raised the fork to her mouth, and clamped down, sliding the fork back to the plate.

She chewed for a while. Ellie felt her eyes widen, wondering what will happen.

Suddenly, she swallowed and actually smiled a bit. “Tastes much better,” her mom said, placing her fork down. Ellie smiled back.

;

“Oh, sorry!”

I sat up, rubbing my head. “Oh, it’s okay. Are you good,” I asked, not looking her in the eyes.

“Uh, yeah,” she said, rubbing her eyes. Her mascara ran a little. “Sorry, you got something…”

She laughed, wiped again and said “sorry, I’m not having a good day.” Despite what I just saw her do, I smirk a little. “It’s okay. I could take you to get some coffee or an ice cream or something…you know, if you want,” I say, helping her up.

“I’m Ellie,” she says, taking my hand.

;

Ellie left the restaurant. “Bye, mom,” she said, waving as her mom walked the opposite direction. “Bye, Ellie,” she responded, waving back.

Ellie smiled, laughing to herself. How did she possibly get through this? Her mom and herself had been enemies since forever, and because of some mozzarella, they were friends again?

Ellie didn’t notice the person in front of her, and they bumped into each other.

“Oh sorry,” Ellie said, looking at the man she just collided with. “Oh, it’s okay. I’m fine. Are you okay,” the man said, helping me up.

Ellie smiled, saying “yup, I’m good.” He smiled too, and said “well. I know it’s a little late, but do you want to get a coffee or ice cream or something with me?”

Ellie smiled at him, saying “sure. Uh, my name’s Ellie.”

The guy smiled back, saying “my name’s Tyler.”

“Have we met before,” he added, taking her hand. Ellie shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”

“You look so familiar,” he said, as they walked off.

“Maybe in another life.”