Margaret stares at me. I can tell she is judging my outfit, but she says nothing. Her dress is so much more… -bedazzled- than my sweater and leggings.

“Double dates are crap!” she yells. I know she would’ve said something else, had Tobias and Amelia not been in the room. My niece and son are playing a drawing game on the iPad they share.

“You agreed to it, Maggie,” I say. “No going back now; Matthias and Kai are waiting for us.”

Margaret huffs as she walks out of the sitting room and to the car. She doesn’t even say goodbye to her two children. She did not even finish her makeup, but we are running late.

“Bye, my cinnamon rolls,” I say to Tobias and Amelia. “Remember, the babysitter will be here soon.”

“You hear that, Tobias? Felix’ll be here soon. Bye, Auntie Mary!” Amelia yells. Tobias waves.

I run to the car. Margaret drives us to Sushisamba. It’s just five minutes from our small apartment. As we arrive, Matthias is waiting patiently out front. I run to him, smiling. Kai, Margaret’s date, is already inside. I can see him through the window. He scowling.

“Hello, my sweet!” Matthias says, walking us inside. “As you can see, Kai has already made a table arrangement.”

Margaret takes a seat across from Kai. I take the one next to her, across from Matthias. We order our drinks. Our waitress is a teenager with bright blue hair.

She gestures at Kai first. He looks at the beer menu. “This one,” he says, pointing at a garish drink.

Next is Margaret. “Dry Martini -with- ice and a lime,” she says with much attitude.

Matthias looks at the menu. “Diet Dr. Pepper.” How odd, I think.

Finally, me. “Water,” I say simply.

As our waitress leaves, I turn to Margaret. “Please rethink your beverage choice, Maggie. Now you will be a drunken fool and I will be the one to put Amelia to bed.”

“Oh, puh-lease. A little cocktail couldn’t hurt a thing!” I feel Matthias and Kai staring at us. I do not want Margaret to ruin this. It’s my first time since Tobias was two.

“Margaret Ophal, please promise me you will only order one,” I plead.

She rolls her eyes.

I can tell Matthias is anxious for conversation. He may be expecting too much, for I am not an excellent conversationalist.

“So, uh, this is… lovely, isn’t it?” I attempt.

“Yes,” Matthias replies.

“It’d be better if you weren’t dressed like you just woke up,” Margaret remarks. Kai snickers. I see him nod towards Margaret.

“Maggie, not now.”

A different waitress comes by with our drinks. “Are we ready to order?”

Oh dear. I forgot about all that. How could I do that? I simply smile and shake my head. She hurries off. What will Matthias think? That I am forgetful and irresponsible? Margaret starts laughing.

“What?” I ask, somewhat panicked.

“You look like a tomato, idiot!” She says a bit too loudly. Kai is giggling with her, and even Matthias is suppressing a chuckle.

I am messing it up.

“Now you’re even redder!” Margaret is laughing so hard that she is wheezing.

I quickly excuse myself. I run to the restroom. I enter the Family Restroom so no one else can be in the same room as me. I suppose I can’t just bail on the date. I have to keep pressing on. With Margaret, it may be a challenge. I go back to the table. I suppose they ordered without me, for our menus are gone.

I attempt conversation again. “Do you have any children of your own?” I ask.

“No. I was married once, but she filed for a divorce only two months after,” Matthias says. He looks sleepy. I can’t blame him.

“Nah, I don’t do well with ‘em,” says Kai, leaning back in his chair.

“Kids are a pain! ‘Specially her’s. What’s he got? Schizophrenia or somethin’?” Margaret asks.

“Yes, Tobias is slightly schizophrenic.” I keep my tone even, yet I am twitchy.

“Eh, yeah. She’s got a messed up kid.”

“Maggie. Tobias is -not- messed up. You know he is a lovely child.” I really cannot take her anymore.

“He’s almost as messed up as you, idiot!”

“DO NOT SAY ONE NEGATIVE THING ABOUT MY CHILD!” I yell. I feel the whole restaurant staring. I hear Matthias politely get up and step outside. I break down into tears. I know I have messed up.