The Meaning of Life

She raised a hand and hailed a cab. One stopped right away beside her. She crawled in and instructed the driver, "Don Chow's." She added "please."
He agreed and they were off.

Candice was dropped off a few stores down from her destination. She thanked the cabby and gave him an outrageous tip.

Digging into her purse she found a pair of sunglasses that did little to hide her appearance. She put them on anyway and waited for yet another pair of people to impose themselves on her.

Maggie and Charles came out of a cab only twenty minutes after the time they had agreed to meet.
"hey! Sorry we're late! traffic on the bridge was..."
"No Worries sweet, I have nothing but time." The sound of her own truth struck her.
"We're here now!"
"let's eat! I'm famished!"
Her companion nodded in approval.
They entered and requested a table for three. Once seated the barrage of questions started.
"So, Candy, How's things?"
"wonderful, simply breathtaking."
"Yeah? What's his name?"
"Maggie... You know there is no one in my life."
"How was the tour?"
"Amazing." Her tone did not comply with her wording.
"Good! Did you meet anyone?"
Candice sighed.
"Still? Nothing? You are getting a little old to still be without a- a good mate." Maggie turned toward her companion, and he nodded in agreement.
Candice resisted the urge to rub her forehead. "So tell me, How did you two meet?"

Candice listened in casual disinterest as Maggie recalled the engagement and Charles chirped in when she forgot a detail, nodding to prove she was actually listening. When the conversation ended Candice turned to Charles.
"Hows the Band?"
"Good."
"Do you play any venues?"
"Not really, not anymore."
"They need a singer," Maggie interjected, "Do you know anyone."
Candice looked at Charles and in all seriousness she answered, "I'll sing for you guys anytime."
He answered "Thanks" in a way that assured Candice they didn't want any part of what she was willing to give.
Candice scratched the back of her head. "I might know someone."
Charles chimed in "With the current situation I don't know if I could."
Candice turned to Maggie puzzled. She giggled in response to his comment.
"What are you pregnant?"
Maggie smiled hugely. Charles grinned proudly.
"Congratulations. and I mean that from the bottom of my heart." The pair thanked her. And as much as she should have been glad, it only made candice feel more lost. "So when's the big day?"
"They are saying early July."
"Ah, so you have a Christmas Present?
"September Actually."
Candice realized that Christmas was sill a ways away. "Right!" Months had meshed together and she forced herself to realize it was barely the start of November.
"SO what do you two need?"
"We have a registry set up with Target. But we could really use a renovation on our new place, to ready it for the baby."
"How much do you need?" Candice directed this question at Charles, knowing he wouldn't splice up the necessities.
"Thirty-five thousand."
"Well then, how about I cut you a check for fifty and we call it settled?"
"We couldn't dare ask you-" Maggies tried to interject.
"I've got it, I should use my revenue for something useful right?"
"But we couldn't-"
"If you need it, and i know you will, let me. It''s not like I am using it."
Charles put a hand on his wife's hand. "We would be thankful for anything you can supply."
Candice smiled happily. "Then it's settled. Why don't you give me a call in a few days, and we can finalize a payment plan. Just let me take stock of my finances. Mmm-k?"
"I guess-"
"We would be grateful."
Candice nodded. "Now," she stood ad addressed her company, "Let's get at the buffet, I could use some dinner."
The pair smiled to one another. Maggie started up. "The Mongolian Grill is amazing here."
Candice shook her head, "All I want right now is some sushi."

They three ate while sharing jovial conversation for a few hours before the wait staff asked them to leave. The dinner rush was about to begin and they might have needed their table.

Charles called a cab to take them back to where she had parked.

Once they had all gotten comfortably into Candice's SUV, she asked "SO, lets get ready to rumble?"
The pair laughed in agreement. They started out and drove slowly though city traffic on their way to the venue where Candice was eager to see her little sister.

They arrived a little too early and found a fantastic parking spot. But they had to wait outside for admittance. The indian summer kept them warm while they waited to get in.

The parking lot filed up quickly, and a line formed behind the set who were talking happily.

When the doors opened Candice was offered a beer, she took it. They got settled into their seats before others. She finished her beer quickly. The rush of drunkenness washed her over. She felt herself loosening up and molding into the uncomfortable plastic seat. Her companions started talking about who to contact about the renovations while she sank into herself. Just as she was approaching acceptance in herself she envisioned a moment from the past. And she saw his face, confused and pained, and his naked body above hers. She jolted her head up and saw the crowd surrounding her. She had to take a second to realize where and when she was. She exhaled heavily, vibrating her lips.

In front of her were a group of giggly teenagers. She inhaled and exhaled once more. She pretended not to notice as they pretended not to look at her. While the lights were still up she was encroached upon.

"Aren't you..?" Once of them asked.
"You're Candice Cain!" The teenager was seething vibrance.
Candice took her hand to her face and wiped it twice. She sighed heavily. "Actually my name is Loren Penny. I am In Fact the heir to the JCPenny company. I suppose the light hair and aggressive style might make you assume I am like that Stupid Harlett Candice Cain, But I am not. I am so sick of everyone confusing me for her." She sat back into her seat. "I am always being asked for autographs When I don't know the first thing about music." She banged her index finger into her temple thrice. "I bet its a lucrative business, but I don't have a head for music."
The group looked at one another another in disbelief.
Charles was her savior this time around. "Ladies, we are only here to take in an evening of entertainment. Please leave Miss Penny to enjoy what she came here for; the show."
They did not seem convinced, but they turned toward stage and the lights went out. The excitement rose in the crowd. Spots started in-ring, and a song blared over the loud speakers.
Candice replied, "Thank you, my good sir."