Previously:

Cordelia tapped me on the shoulder. “So, what do you think? Huh? Should we go? Shall we join them.” By now, she was dancing around, clinging to my arm.When she heard my ‘yes’ she broke into Mustang Sally, possibly her Karaoke choice. This was going to be good. We were going to have a fun time. I couldn’t wait.

********

“Thank the universe the Karaoke bar is in the same place as when we went out to eat a week ago. It will be easy to find,” said Cordelia reassuringly.

“Remember, we just walk out of here, down Lemon Street. It’s called the Longstore, across from Fairmantle Street." Cordelia has a good memory. I guess she’d have to, to be able to memorize all those, notes, chords and songs for the purpose of healing.

Cordelia was overwhelmed when we walked through the doorway. “Whoa, there’s a lot more people here than the last time. We’re going to have to sing in front of all of these people?”

“We’re not going to be singing at all if we don’t hurry and sign up for our song. Are you going to do the one you were singing earlier? What was it called?”

“I  was going to sing ‘Mustang Sally’ but now I’m not so sure. There are a lot of people here.”

“Well, let’s sign up and after seeing how others do, we can confirm it between ourselves. I’m also hungry. I’ve been looking around for food and haven’t seen any. That’s not going to be good.”

Ever, the sharped-eyed one, Cordelia said above the din, “I saw more people in the other room standing in a line with plates and napkin-wrapped silverware. We should go check that out.”

I put the proverbial 'stick in the spokes'. “But first, we’re going to find the place we sign up.”

She groaned. “Okay."

We located the person to secure our position and song. I smiled when I heard Cordelia request ‘Mustang Sally’. The lady looked at me curiously when I proudly announced I would be doing ‘What’s Up’.

“Okay, Cordelia, lead the way.”  

I followed her, weaving through the crowds, this way and that ‘til we saw the end of the line, where we could arm ourselves with plates and eating implements.

I’m always conflicted in buffet lines. I’m left-handed, so I need to serve myself from the right of the steam table. Doing a study, it might be interesting to discover, the right-handed servers are opposite of the left-handed diners.   

As usual, we had to wait for more of the meatball, and more of the potatoes, and more of the stuffed mushrooms. There were plenty of green beans. 

We knew we had about one-half hour before the karaoke began, but we were signed up so could take our time eating. As I was looking around, I spotted Karin.

Cordelia noticed me waving to someone, "Oh, there is Cyndy, cool.   

I remembered Karin speaking of Cyndy's reaction to the sad energy. When she reported it gave them a sense of hopelessness, I recalled thinking the boys who were going off to war with little hope of returning, must have exuded that kind of energy.

As Cyndy and Karin were lining up to fill their plates, and we were ready to find a table, Cordelia shouldered her way to their place in line. "We'll save a seat for you at our table."

Cyndy, smiled, nodding her head to acknowledge she'd heard Cordelia. 

“Now to find a place after I invited them to sit with us. We've got to find an empty four-chair table. Do you see any?"

"Over there." I tilted my head in the direction I was indicating.  I think those people at that table are getting ready to leave. They've finished their dessert. It would be really rude for them to think they could sit back and just visit."

Cordelia laughed. "Your gift of people-watching may be paying off for us, here. Oh, look, you were right, they're leaving. Let's get right over there."

We swiftly shuffled over to grab the table. "Ah, good to sit." I sighed a breath of relief.

Cordelia stood, waving for our new friends to see where we had lighted.

********* 

As they neared, we made room on our table. "Hi, have a seat. Karin, this is Cordelia. Cordelia, this is Karin."

When proper introductions were completed, we began attacking our savory selections. Silence ensued.

Cordelia was the first to speak, a beat before Cyndy. "So, do you think we'll be playing our harps on the labyrinth?"

Cyndy laughed. "I was just going to ask you the same thing. I've got a sketchy feeling about the whole thing, the whole trip."

I couldn't help interjecting. "I agee. Whenever I think of it, I get terrible inner tremors."

"You too?" Karin leaned forward. "What could it be that's causing pauses in my head?"

Cordelia saw that moment to change the conversation to an equally tenuous topic. "So, are either of you signed up to sing?"

Ironically, someone was belting out Elton John's 'Bennie and the Jets'. It sounded pretty good, too. I was wondering if Cordelia was looking for support to not have to perform. But she would find none.

Cyndy answered for both of them. Looking at an excited Karin, she said, "I think Karin is doing 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' by Cindi Lauper."

There were a lot of 'oohs and 'ahhhs' from our side of the table.

Cyndy continued with hesitation. "But, I'm not sure about me singing."