Meet them for lunch at the ice cream parlour.

"Gary?" Lil answered. She giggled, the sound a little tinny through Gary's phone. She sounded in good spirits.

"Hi sis," he said. "I'm back at the mall. How's the shopping thing going? Where are you at?"

"You're early. Are you feeling guilty?" Lil said teasingly.

"Uh, um, just wanted to see if you wanted to have lunch or something. Where are you guys at?" Gary asked.

"Yeah, it's Gary," Lil said to someone at her end. She giggled. "No! Well, yup, I bet."

"Huh?" Gary said.

"Nothing," Lil said. "Yeah, lunch is fine. Y'know what?"

"What?" Gary asked.

"They just opened a Farrell's at the mall!" The cellphone strained to transmit Lil's chirpiness.

"No way, I haven't seen one since...gee, I don't know," Gary said. The temple to the ice cream sundae was long gone, he thought. But it seemed like a good omen for Lil. "Just don't tell 'em it's your birthday."

Lil laughed. "Meet us by the music fountain," she said. "Hey!"

"Hey Gary?" Bernie's voice said. "Hurry up." Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Lover?"

Gary twitched. He had a confession for Bernie, but at least she already knew. And she still wanted him. He took a deep breath. "Be right there," he said.

"What did you tell him?" Lil's voice broke in. "What did you just tell him?" Lil's voice got clearer. "Hey Gary! See you by the fountain." The phone clicked off.

A few minutes later, they were settled in a booth at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour. Lil slid in by the window across from Bernie, and Gary sat next to his girlfriend. Gary and Bernie split a pizza. Lil had the grilled chicken sandwich.

Bernie and Gary held hands under the table. She squeezed his hand every once in a while. It felt good to Gary. Reassuring, and, um, more. He shifted in his seat as his pants tightened up in front.

"How about we go to a movie after lunch?" Lil suggested.

Gary nodded. "This is the day for it," he said. "The pavement hasn't quite melted yet."

"I wonder if everyone else has the same idea?" Bernie asked. "You think we should go run get tickets?"

"Ooh, I still want a sundae," Lil said.

"Can you get tickets on your phone?" Gary asked.

"Oh yeah!" Lil said. She took out her mobile phone and started clicking away. "Okay. Here's what's left for the matinées." She showed the choices to Gary and Lil.

Gary was about to say something when Bernie kicked his foot.

"You choose," he told Lil, remembering whose day out this was.

Lil picked a movie. Gary ordered tickets on the phone with his credit card.

Their waitress, wearing Farrell's candy-striped uniform, returned to their table. "All right, it's the moment of truth," she said. "Ice cream?"

"Yay!" Lil said. "Me last, mmkay?"

Bernie looked at Gary. "Banana split?" she asked.

"Sure," he replied. He looked to the waitress. "Two spoons."

The waitress turned to Lil.