<table width="100%"><tr><td style="vertical-align: top; width:50%; padding-right:10px;"><span style="color: #E6E9FD"><span style="font-family: Nyala;"><span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;">Today was a warm, July evening, full of teenagers, children, and adults alike mucking about and around stands and tents in parking lots to buy colourful explosives with their hard earned cash. The sun shined down and there wasn't a cloud in any line of site, the baby blue creating a screen in the sky. Even those used to warm climates could feel the burn on their skin as they stepped out of the shade and into the path of the direct sunlight. Those wearing thin shoes had to sprint across dark pavement to prevent burning their feet, and every ginger in the city wore three layers of their favourite sunscreen. Yes, it was a fine day to be about in the sun and enjoying the weather. But it was also a marvelous day to stay in an air conditioned local diner. <br/><br/>With every customer that ventured through the door, they would be welcomed with the soft twinkle of a silver bell and a gust of a cool breeze. And as the door opened yet again, a man walked in with a smile on his lips. "Oh wow, it's nice and cool in here." He chuckled, stepping into the establishment fully. The door didn't close all the way however, as another body passed through it, following in the shadow of the man. However it kept it's head low and spoke nothing of the refreshing wisp of air. <br/><br/>The brunette young man walked around the mismatching sets of furniture to make his way to the old wood counter. Several other people took refuge in the coolness of he diner. Some drank coffee and read books, a few chattered about their daily lives and laughed at inside jokes, and others brewed drinks and served meals and treats. His brown shoes tapped softly along the hard floors and he walked his path. He stopped at said wood counter and took a seat on a dark wood stool comprised of three legs and a small wooden back. An odd little chair to say the least. But he sat down anyway, grinning at the familiar smile on the other side of counter.<br/><br/>"Hello mister Ectar." She greeted warmly, squirting whipped cream onto a cup of coffee for another customer. "How are you?"<br/><br/>The man nodded enthusiastically,"I'm good, very good. Yourself?"<br/><br/>She laughed softly,"I'm good, thanks for asking." Her green eyes glancing at the other who decided to sit down in the pink seated stool beside the man. <br/><br/>The long haired boy simply looked at her plainly. "Good afternoon Sylvester." The boy merely waved with a few fingers and a raised eyebrow. "What do you boys want?" <br/><br/>"I'll get a scoop of peppermint ice cream with oreo toppings and- uh- what do you want Sylvester?" The man turned to the child  with a smile. The boy was not amused. <br/><br/></span></span></span></td><td style="vertical-align: top; width:50%; padding-left:10px;"><span style="color: #E6E9FD"><span style="font-family: Nyala;"><span style="font-size: 120%; line-height: 116%;">"I'm not hungry." <br/><br/>"Oh, don't start that again. Last time you said that we went home and you ate half the fridge." He laughed," What do you want? A sandwich, ice cream, soda-"<br/><br/>"I said I'm not hungry." He snapped, glaring at the older gentleman. <br/><br/>The two starred at each other for a few seconds, the boy glaring continuously and the man scrunching his lips to the side. He inhaled loudly, then simply shrugged,"Alright." He nodded again, steadily,"Suit yourself." They both turned to the waitress again, the man smiling. <br/><br/>A moment silent moments passed, and as the woman scooped the ice cream with a metal ice cream scoop, she looked at the two and asked,"What are you two doing for 4th of July? Any fireworks for tonight?"<br/><br/>Mr. Ectar nodded,"Yeah, that's the plan. We were just about to go buy fireworks after we had lunch." The woman merely chuckled and continued to make the ice cream by the crushing the oreos. <br/><br/>Sylvester turned to the man and sighed,"  Can I have money to play in the arcade?" <br/><br/>The man raised an eyebrow,"But we were going to play one of the board games. You always want to play a board game." <br/><br/>"I want to play in the arcade." <br/><br/>"But we always play a board game on the 4th of July." <br/><br/>"Dad, I don't want to play a board game." He snapped. <br/><br/>The two starred at each other for several long moments. Finally, however, the man blinked and hesitantly pulled out his wallet, digging out several quarters. He held them out to the boy and he took them hastily, scooting out of his seat and walking over to the small room containing four different arcade style machines. It left the gentleman to sit by himself, pondering that of which the boy said. <br/><br/>He was handed a small bowl. "Enjoy your ice cream."</span></span></span></td></tr></table>