Thirty Eight

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Carol retorted. “Let’s go inside.”

“But the barbecue... ?” Kim asked, utterly baffled.

Carol didn’t reply but just led the way back inside, entering using a sliding door into the kitchen. “We’ll just do it in here where it’s nice and cool.”

Only then did Brad and Kim notice a built-in gas grill. In just moments it was going and Bill began grilling hot dogs and hamburgers while Carol took salads already made from the refrigerator.

In just a few minutes the now-famished foursome were eating.

Kim looked around and finally shook her head. “Nope,” she said softly as if she were talking to herself, “it’s not a real picnic.”

“What’s wrong? Why not?” Carol asked, feeling hurt. She thought the whole thing was delightful. And Bill had done his usual fine job cooking, while the salads, she thought, were lovely.

“Where are the flies? The ants? All the other creepy-crawly things... ? Nope. It’s not a real picnic,” Kim announced.

Finally realizing that Kim had been jerking he