Barbie Does Dallas
When in Dallas.
The deli had its regulars.
A Jewish woman yelling at her grandchildren on the phone.
A woman knitting.
Tony mopping the floor.
The bell over the door jingled.
In walked a cowboy.
He studied the menu.
"I have a question."
The Jewish woman stopped talking.
The knitting needles stopped clicking.
Tony stopped mopping.
The cowboy pointed at the menu.
"Is it legal to get a turkey sandwich with mayo?"
The Jewish woman looked at him.
The knitter looked at him.
Tony looked at him.
The cowboy smiled.
"I thought so."
The Jewish woman went back to yelling at her grandchildren.
The knitting resumed.
Tony resumed mopping.
The bell over the door jingled.
In walked Barbie.
She was dressed in her finest western wear.
(When in Dallas.)
Pink hat.
Pink boots.
A hoop skirt.
Enough rhinestones to be seen from Oklahoma.
The cowboy looked her up and down.
Slowly.
A smile spread across his face.
Barbie walked to the counter.
In a terrible Southern accent, she said,
"Ah'd lahk a grande mocha latte with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzle."
Silence.
Tony blinked.
The Jewish woman held up a finger.
"Don't go anywhere. I'll call you right back."
The knitting woman stared.
Missed a stitch.
Poked herself in the face.
"Ow!"
Tony sighed.
"Lady, this is a deli."
"Perfect."
The cowboy grinned.
"Hey, good lookin'."
Barbie turned around.
"You wanna go for a ride on my horse?"
The Jewish woman slowly lowered her phone.
The knitting woman put down her needles.
Tony abandoned the mop.
Barbie smiled.
"You're so handsome."
The cowboy blinked.
Blushed.
Looked at the floor.
Then the ceiling.
Then Tony.
The bell over the door jingled.
Ken walked in.
Smiling that weird Ken smile.
"Ken?" said Barbie.
"Barb."
"What are you doing here?"
Ken smiled.
"I heard they had good orange juice."
"In Dallas?"
Ken nodded.
The cowboy looked at him.
"Ain't orange juice from Florida?"
Ken smiled.
The cowboy stared at him.
"Huh."
Barbie smiled.
Ken smiled.
Barbie took Ken's hand.
"Come on."
Together they headed for the door.
Ken stopped.
Turned around.
Walked back to the cowboy.
Reached into his pocket.
And handed him an orange juice.
The cowboy looked at the orange juice.
Then at Ken.
Then at Barbie.
Then back at the orange juice.
Ken smiled.
Barbie smiled.
The bell over the door jingled.
They were gone.
The Jewish woman shook her head.
The knitting woman shook her head.
Tony shook her head.
The cowboy stood there holding an orange juice.
"Huh."