Fortunately, there was no line at the hotdog stand. “What’ll it be, Ms. Raines?” the older man behind the counter asked earnestly.<br/><br/>Beth figured she could use some comfort food. “A small chile-cheese dog and a diet soda, please.”<br/><br/>Not long after that she was seated alone at one of the tables and taking the first bite of her hot dog.<em>I hope I didn’t overreact back there.</em>She was then interrupted when three young men approached, each holding a rolled up poster and a marker.<em>Oh jeez.</em><br/><br/>Two of them were lanky, the other short and heavy-set. One of the tall ones spoke first. “Ms. Raines, we were wondering, if, um...”<br/><br/>She might have found their nervousness endearing if she had been in a better mood, but as it was she still managed to force a convincing smile. “I’d be happy to sign your posters,” she reassured them, putting aside her food. The young man who spoke was the first to roll out the poster onto the table and hand her his marker. “Who should I make—”<br/><br/>Beth stopped short when she looked at the image, despite the fact that it was such a common one. Just Elizabeth Raines, leaning against the foot of the Lissa in a pilot’s jumpsuit and flashing a ‘v for victory’ sign. What got to her was the goofy-looking grin of the woman in the picture.<em>You can just tell, this Elizabeth has never been inside a morgue, never watched a medical examiner open a freezer and pull out—</em><br/><br/>“Um, who should I make it out to?” she finally asked, a little more quietly.<em>What the fuck is wrong with me? There’s no reason to be so damn morbid.</em><br/><br/>“I’m Tim. This is my brother Ralph, and this is our friend Ralph.”<br/><br/>Beth gave a weak smile, though at least this one was genuine. “I take it you boys are a new team?”<br/><br/>“We’re the Mortars!” The shorter, non-brother Ralph said enthusiastically. He was slightly too loud, drawing stares from several pilots nearby.<br/><br/>“Ah. Well, I’m very flattered.”<br/><br/>“Actually, we named ourselves after the old Mortars team from Canada,” the taller Ralph corrected.<br/><br/>“Oh,” Beth said, slightly embarrassed. “You mean the ones who took the 3 vs. 3 championships from ’23 to ’29?”<br/><br/>“Yeah. But we’re kind of named after your old high school team too.” the short Ralph added quietly.<br/><br/>By this time, Beth had finished autographing each poster. She was slightly amused to see that the short Ralph’s poster was the one of her in a bikini stepping out of a pool. “Well, I wish you boys the best—except in any matches where you’re fighting against me,” she joked.<br/><br/>“Thank you,” they said in unison before withdrawing. Beth was left in a much better mood than when they had arrived.<em>Maybe things are getting better.</em>