We burst out laughing, but we all agreed. The first time, we had ordered just drumsticks and wings, but this time we tried the thighs, and I liked them even better. There were a lot of other things on the menu, but we were starting to get full.

“Do we have to order the other stuff?” I groaned.

Jeanie shook her head. “I think we can just review the chicken. If you say up front that it’s the review of just one dish and not a restaurant review, you won’t have to cover everything.”

“We will have to come back and try the chicken again, though, just to be fair,” said Marina with a laugh.

We sat back, satisfied and sticky, and we each gave a deep, contented sigh.

“Do they have dessert?” Marina craned her head to see.

“They have some kind of lemon ice. That’s all,” I remembered. “What do you guys think?”

“Anyone want one?” asked Marina.

Jeanie and I both shook our heads. “I don’t have another inch to spare,” I said, patting my stomach.

“I’ll get one to go,” said Marina, “and we can walk off this food for a bit.”

“Look, there’s someone who needs our table,” said Jeanie as Marina headed off. It was a woman struggling with two small boys and a heavily laden tray. “Yoo-hoo! Over here!” Jeanie waved as I hurriedly stood and wiped down our table.

Jeanie dodged through the crowd to help the lady with her tray, and as the woman looked up, I saw that it was Ms. Healy, my favorite teacher!

She was smiling gratefully at Jeanie and shepherding the boys to our table.

“Allie! What a treat! How are you, sweetheart?” Ms. Healy gave me a big hug. “How’s your summer? These are my nephews, Bradley and Timmy. They’re just visiting me. Say hello, boys, to my star student, Allie.”

The boys were adorable and turned to me to solemnly say hello. Inside I was bursting from the “star student” compliment.

“Thank you so much for the table. I was desperate back there,” continued Ms. Healy as she settled her nephews onto their stools. She asked me how my summer was going and what I was reading, and how the food was.

I explained that we were there to review the food for our food-writing class, and Ms. Healy got super-excited. “Oh, Allie, I’m so glad you’re taking that class! You’re such a fantastic writer. I see a real future for you in the world of writing!”

I felt warm and happy from the additional compliment. “Thank you so much.”

“Thank you for the table and for the help getting over here! You have such nice friends. Just like you!”

We chatted for another minute and then said good-bye, and Jeanie and I went to meet Marina outside.