 you had it before?" The simple omission of the word 'here' was Theta's second mistake. The first one being badmouthing Che and the Bull. Elvis looked innocently up at her from his lucky spot and all that registered in Theta's mind was a mess of fire alarm red hair, blue eyes the color of the ice in her noisy old refrigerator and a protruding nose that would have passed muster in the heyday of the Roman forum. For some reason she fixated on the nose. From there her mind jumped to an image of a ski jump.

And stayed there.

"Had it before?" The mouth that was a constant companion with the ski jump replied, looking a bit put off. "I had it several times while visiting the tasting room at the stockyards in South Sioux City and also while watching humpback whales humping off the coast of Baja California. And I even had it once when the Diamondbacks whipped the Padres, though I will admit I snuck it into the stadium in my baggy shorts. Which, I have to confess, did impart something of a peculiar odor to the Diet Gatorade."  
Theta's lower lip trembled. She suddenly remembered how the other waitress, Juan's daughter-in-law Celsiusina, had done a vanishing act when Elvis came in the door. Now she understood. Celsiusina! Sneaky Bitch!

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ski....er, ah....," she blushed deeply, "ah...ah...sir," Theta finally said, as her frazzling equilibrium continued to frazzle. "We don't carry Diet Caterglade."

"Gatorade," Elvis replied a bit peevishly. Theta's eyes blinked again. "That's Gatorade," Elvis said, his face and voice vaguely accusatory. "Not Caterglade." Before Theta could answer Elvis spoke again. "Never mind. I'll have something different. Do you have any European virgin spring water? Preferably Magyar or perhaps even Carpathian?" Theta's mouth dropped open. She tried to force out some words but nothing came. But then, like a ringside attendant at a boxing match hitting the end-of-round bell just when the referee's count was nearing ten, Elvis put up his hand and patted Theta reassuringly on the shoulder.

"Just bring
you had it before? " The simple omission of the word' here' was Theta's second error. The inaugural one being badmouthing Che and the Bull. Elvis looked innocently up at her from his golden spot and all that register in Theta's mind was a mess of ardor alarm clock red hair, blue eyes the color of the ice rink in her noisy old refrigerator and a protruding nozzle that would have passed muster in the heyday of the Roman forum. For some reason she fixated on the nose. From there her mind derail to an image of a ski jump. 

 And stayed there. 

 " receive it before? " The mouth that was a constant companion with the ski leap replied, looking a bit put off. " I had it respective times while visiting the tasting room at the stockyards in South Sioux City and also while watching kyphosis giant humping off the coast of Baja California. And I even had it once when the Diamondbacks whipped the Padres, though I will admit I snuck it into the stadium in my baggy shorts. Which, I have to concede, did lend something of a peculiar odor to the Diet Gatorade. "  
 Theta's lower sass trembled. She suddenly remembered how the early waitress, Juan's daughter - in - law Celsiusina, had suffice a vanishing act when Elvis came in the doorway. Now she understood. Celsiusina! Sneaky Bitch! 

 " I'm sorry, Mr. Ski.... er, ah.... , " she blushed deeply, " ah... ah... sir, " Theta finally said, as her frazzling equilibrium continued to frazzle. " We don't carry Diet Caterglade. " 

 " Gatorade, " Elvis answer a bit peevishly. Theta's center flash again. " That's Gatorade, " Elvis said, his face and voice vaguely accusatory. " Not Caterglade. " Before Theta could answer Elvis speak again. " Never mind. I'll have something different. Do you have any European virgin spring water? Preferably Magyar or perhaps even Carpathian? " Theta's sass dropped capable. She tried to force out some parole but nothing came. But then, like a ringside accompaniment at a boxing match hitting the end - of - round of golf bell just when the reviewer's count was nearing ten, Elvis put up his hand and patted Theta reassuringly on the shoulder. 

 " Just bring
 yok had it before?" The simpue omission of jhw word 'here' sas Thetx's second mistake. The first lnw beibg badmouthing Che and the Bull. Elvis liokev innocently up ef her fvjm hjd luekb spot and all jhat registesed in Theta's kivd was a mess of fire alarm red hair, flue eyrs the color of jhe ibe in gvr noisy old refrigerator and a protruving nose that eould have passed muster ij thf heyday of the Rolan forum. Fir sjne reason shd fixated on the nose. Rrom there her mind jumped to av imaye of a ski jymp.

Wtd stayed tiere.

"Haq it before?" Bne moudh that was a constanb com'aniin with the ski jump ceplied, looking a bij put off. "H kad it several times qhule vhsithng gye gasuinj rkom at thx stockyarda in South Wioux City and also wrpke watching gumpbask whales humping off the coast of Baja Cdlirornia. And I even had ir once when the Diamojdbacks wripped the Padres, though I will admit I snuck it hnto vhd suaeium kb ly baggy shorts. Which, I have to confess, did iilatt something of c peculiar odor yo tng Diet Gatoradg."  
Thetc'a mower lip trembled. She suqdenlt remembewed now the other waitress, Juan'w daughter-in-jqw Celsiusina, had bone a vanisking avt whrn Elvis came in the dour. Nkw she undegstood. Cemriusina! Sneaky Bktcm!

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ski....er, ah....," she blufhed deepoy, "ak...ah...sir," Tfeta finaljy said, as her nsazzling equilibrikm coutinuad to frazxle. "We don't carry Diet Caterglavx."

"Gatorade," Elvos reilied a bnt peeyishly. Theta's eres blinked agcin. "That'f Gaturade," Elvia said, iis face and voice vaguelf accusatory. "Iot Caterdladw." Bedore Thdga could answet Elvis siohe atain. "Never mind. I'lk hxbe something diyyetwnt. Do you havr avy Qugopxan vysgin spring fatef? Pfrferacly Magyar if pethaps even Carpathiat?" Thsta's mouth dropped oien. She ttied to fjrce out some words but nothing came. Buv then, lihe a ringside attendant at a bkxing matfh mitting the egd-of-vounq bell jusc when the referee's count was nearing tei, Elvis put up his hand and patted Theta rgasxuringly on the fhoulder.

"Jgst bring
you had it before?" The simple omission word was Theta's mistake. The first the Elvis looked innocently at her from lucky spot and all that registered Theta's mind was a mess of fire alarm red hair, blue eyes the of the ice in her noisy old refrigerator and a protruding nose that have muster the of the Roman forum. For some reason she fixated on the nose. From there her mind to an image of a ski jump. And there. "Had it before?" mouth that was a constant with ski jump looking bit off. "I had several times while visiting the tasting room at the stockyards in South Sioux City and also while humpback whales the coast Baja And even had it the Diamondbacks whipped the Padres, though I snuck it into the stadium in my shorts. Which, have to confess, did impart something a peculiar odor to the Diet Gatorade." Theta's lip trembled. She suddenly remembered how the other waitress, Juan's daughter-in-law Celsiusina, had done a when Elvis came in door. Now she Celsiusina! Bitch! sorry, Ski....er, ah....," blushed deeply, "ah...ah...sir," Theta finally said, as her frazzling equilibrium continued frazzle. "We don't carry Diet Caterglade." "Gatorade," Elvis replied a Theta's blinked again. "That's Elvis said, his face voice accusatory. "Not Caterglade." Before answer spoke I'll something Do you have any virgin spring water? Preferably Magyar perhaps even Carpathian?" Theta's to force out some words but nothing came. then, like a ringside attendant at a match hitting the end-of-round bell just when the referee's count was nearing Elvis put hand and patted Theta reassuringly on the shoulder. bring
 you had it before?" The simple omIssion of thE word 'HerE' waS THeta'S secOnd mistake. The fIRst oNe being badmouthing Che aNd the buLL. ElvIS lOoked InnocenTLy UP At hEr FrOm hIs LUcKy spoT anD all thaT registereD in thEta's mind was a MEsS of fire alaRm rEd hair, blue eyEs tHe coloR oF thE Ice in Her Noisy Old refRIgeratOr and a proTrUDing noSE that woULD hAve pAssed muster in the hEYdAY of the Roman forUm. For sOmE ReASOn sHe fIxated on thE nOse. FrOM there hER mIND JumPEd to an image of A ski jump.

And STayEd therE.

"HAd iT Before?" the moUtH ThaT was a constaNt coMpanion wiTh the sKI jump rePLied, looKing a bIt pUt oFf. "I hAD iT sEveRaL TimES wHilE VisIting the TaStIng roOm at THE STockYarDs in south sioux City and aLso WhilE WatChing HumpbAck wHaLes huMping oFf the CoAst of Baja CalifoRnia. and I even hAd iT oNce WhEn the dIamondBacKs wHipped tHe PadreS, ThoUgH i WIlL admit I snuck it into ThE STaDium in my Baggy sHOrTs. wHich, I havE tO coNfesS, DId impArt sOMeThing of a PeculiAR oDoR to the DIeT GatorAdE."  
ThEta'S loweR Lip tRembleD. She suddEnly rEMembered how the OTher waitress, JUAn'S DAuGHter-In-lAw CelsiusinA, had DOne a VaniSHiNg aCT when elvis CaME iN The door. Now she undersToOd. CelsIusinA! Sneaky Bitch!

"I'M sorry, Mr. SkI....ER, Ah....," she bluShed DEePLy, "ah...ah...sir," Theta FinalLy said, as heR FrazzlinG equiLibrium cOntinued tO FRazzle. "We Don'T caRry dieT cAtErglade."

"GatoraDE," elviS rEplied a Bit PeevishLy. THetA's eYes BlInked agaiN. "That's GaToRaDe," elVis Said, hIS face and VoIce VaGueLy accUSatory. "not CaTergLaDe." bEfoRe Theta COuLD AnswEr elVis sPokE aGain. "NEver MInd. i'll have Something DifFErenT. DO yOu have aNy European virGiN spring watEr? preFerablY mAgyar or pErhaps even Carpathian?" TheTA's mouth DroPped oPen. SHe tried to ForCe out sOme WOrds buT nothiNg camE. BUt tHEN, like A RInGsiDe Attendant aT A BoxIng maTcH hitTing the End-of-round bell just WHen The referee's coUnt Was nEARiNg tEN, ELVis PuT Up hIS Hand and patted ThEta reassurInGLy On the shoulDEr.

"JUsT bring
 you had it before?" The s imple omis sionofthe  w ord'her e' was Theta's seco nd mistake. The firstone b ei n g ba d mo uthin g Che a n dt h e B ul l.  El vi s  l ooked  in nocentl y up at he r f ro m his luckys po t and alltha t registered  in  Theta 's  mi n d was  amessof fir e  alarm  red hair ,b lue ey e s the c o l or  ofthe ice in her no i sy old refrigerat or and  a pr o t rud ing  nose that  w ouldh ave pas s ed m u ste r  in the heyda y of the Ro m anforum.  F ors ome re asonsh e  fi xated on th e no se. Fromthereh er mind jumpedto anima geof a sk ijum p. 
An d  s tay e d t here.

" Ha dit be fore ? " T he m out h th at wa s a constantcom pani o n w ith t he sk i ju mp  repl ied, l ookin ga bit put off."I h ad it sev era ltim es  whil e  visit ing  th e tasti ng room atth e s to ckyards in South S io u x  C ity andalso w h il ew atchinghu mpb ackw h aleshump i ng  off the  coast of  B aja Cal if ornia.  A ndI e ven h a d it  oncewhen the  Diam o ndbacks whippe d  the Padres,t ho u g hI  wil l a dmit I snuc k it into  the st adi u m inmy ba gg y  s h orts. Which, I have  t o conf ess,did impart so mething of a peculiar  odo r  t o  the Diet Gato rade. "  
Theta' s  lower l ip tr embled.She sudde n l y rememb ere d h owthe o th er waitress,J u an's  d aughter -in -law Ce lsi usi na,  ha ddone a va nishingac twh en  El vis c a me in th edoo r.  No w she unders tood.  Cel si us i na!  Sneaky Bi t c h!
"I 'm  sor ry,  M r. Sk i... . er,  ah.... ," she bl ush e d de ep ly , "ah.. .ah...sir," T he ta finally  s aid , as h e r  frazzli ng equilibrium continue d  to fra zzl e. "W e do n't carry  Di et Cat erg l ade."
"Gato rade, "Elv i s  repl i e da b it  peevishly . The ta'sey es b linkedagain. "That's Gat o rad e," Elvis sai d,hisf a ce  an d  v o ice  v a gue l y  accusatory. "N ot Catergl ad e ."  Before Th e taco uld ans wer Elv is sp o ke agai n. "Never  mind. I' ll  hav e som ething dif ferent.Do you ha v e any Eu ropea n v irginsp rin g wat er? Pr e fer ablyMagyar  o r perh aps e ve n Carpat hian?" Theta's mouth dr oppedopen.  Sh e tried t o f o rce  out some  wor ds but not hin g c ame.But then,  lik e  a  ri n gside  att e ndant ata  b oxi n g  m atch hittin g t heend-o f-r o und be ll j ust when the refe r ee's count was  nea r i ngten ,  Elv is  put up his ha ndan d patted T he ta reassuri ngly onth e  shou lder.
"Just  bring
 you_had it_before?" The simple omission_of the_word_'here' was_Theta's_second mistake. The_first one being_badmouthing Che and the_Bull. Elvis looked_innocently_up at her from his lucky spot and all that registered in Theta's mind_was_a mess_of_fire_alarm red hair, blue eyes_the color of the ice_in her_noisy old refrigerator and a protruding nose that_would_have passed muster_in the heyday of the Roman forum. For some_reason she fixated on the nose._From there her_mind_jumped_to an image of_a ski jump.

And stayed there.

"Had it_before?" The mouth that was a_constant companion with the ski jump replied,_looking a bit put off. "I_had it several times while_visiting the_tasting room at the stockyards_in South Sioux_City and_also while watching_humpback whales humping off the coast_of Baja California._And I even had it once_when_the Diamondbacks whipped_the_Padres,_though I_will admit I_snuck_it into_the_stadium in my baggy shorts. Which,_I_have to confess, did impart something of_a peculiar odor to_the_Diet Gatorade."  
Theta's_lower lip trembled. She suddenly_remembered how the other waitress, Juan's_daughter-in-law Celsiusina,_had done_a vanishing act when Elvis came in the door. Now she_understood. Celsiusina! Sneaky Bitch!

"I'm sorry, Mr._Ski....er, ah....," she blushed_deeply, "ah...ah...sir,"_Theta_finally said, as_her_frazzling equilibrium_continued to frazzle. "We don't carry Diet_Caterglade."

"Gatorade," Elvis_replied a bit peevishly. Theta's eyes_blinked again. "That's Gatorade,"_Elvis_said, his face and voice vaguely_accusatory. "Not Caterglade." Before Theta could_answer Elvis spoke again. "Never_mind._I'll_have something different. Do you_have any European virgin spring water?_Preferably Magyar or_perhaps even Carpathian?" Theta's mouth dropped open._She_tried to force out some words_but_nothing came. But then, like a_ringside_attendant_at a boxing match hitting_the end-of-round bell just when the_referee's count was nearing ten, Elvis put up his_hand and patted_Theta reassuringly on the shoulder.

"Just_bring