The High Life

"Oh, absolutely, you should try the lobster. It's great!" Julia said enthusiastically, taking a shrimp and dipping into the cocktail sauce. "And oh, have you tried shecrab soup?"

"No ... I mean my mama made it once, but it didn't turn out so good," Lindsay said shyly. "I ain't never had no lobster."

"Well, you've been missing out," Elizabeth said, with a comforting smile. Lindsay just ogled at the three of them. How are they so attractive, but I'm so plain, she thought to herself, but it wasn't the time to dip into the well of negativity.

"Frankly, we're jealous of you, you know," Julia said.

"Jealous of me?" Lindsay asked, dumbstruck. "Why?"

"Well, you're young, you have your whole life ahead of you. And we're here to tell you the secrets to avoid the mistakes we made."

"Mistakes?" Lindsay asked, confused. "You're taking me out to an expensive dinner. You all look like a million bucks. I don't see any mistakes." They all tittered at that.

"Darling," Elizabeth said, with a warm smile. "We've all made mistakes. We've dated men that were inferior. Whose faith was secondary."

"You mean Jesus?" Lindsay asked. "My mama plays the organ at church."

"No," Elizabeth said, her smile thinning a bit. "Not Jesus." She wasn't ready. Not quite. "Waiter? I think we're ready. You're having the lobster, right Lindsay?"

"Sure," Lindsay said, flashing a bright smile. But she had so much promise, Elizabeth thought. Soon.