If You Can't Get Spaghetti

identical mushrooms might suffice (Joint Winner, Cramp!)

"Are you sure it was a left turn at that last signpost?"

David burst out laughing. He held the steering wheel and guffawed.

"Did I say something funny?" Maria asked, raising her eyebrows at him.

"You, my girl, you haven't changed in forty years. That's exactly what you said on our first date, don't you remember?"

Maria frowned. Then abruptly, she smiled. She leaned over on David's shoulder and their hearty chuckles rang out in unison.

"Yes, my dear, it was a left, and here we are," David stated, pulling up outside ...

"Oh!"

The once-familiar façade was now different. The signboard had changed.

"This - this isn't a restaurant any more? We can't eat spaghetti and drink raspberry juice ..." Maria's lips trembled. She hadn't realised, until this moment, just how much she had looked forward to re-living their first date. Now that it was impossible, she felt a deep pang of disappointment.

David gave her a quick hug. "Hey, don't fear, I'll do something." Opening the driver's door, he stepped out of the car and into the new doorway.

Five minutes later, he was back. Behind him came two women - one middle-aged and one young. The middle-aged one smiled at Maria. "It's not a busy time, so we can do this," she said. "You're lucky there aren't any customers just now and our next two appointments aren't for twenty minutes yet."

"Do what?" Maria asked. The young woman had come around to her side of the car, opened the passenger door and --- and -- draped a towel around her shoulders. David was getting into the driver's seat and the older woman was draping a towel around his shoulders.

"This is now a Ladies' Hairdresser, as you can see," David informed her. "They give shampoos and haircuts, but only to the gentler gender. I told them of our plight and how we had to do something together here. Jenny (he gestured to the older lady, who smiled) understood immediately. I can't be allowed in, so we're getting a fifteen-minute-wash-and-cut right here in the car."

Two more young ladies emerged from the doorway, carrying watering cans and tins marked 'shampoo'.

"Your car will get wet!" Maria protested.

"Not if you place your head ---" the young lady manouvered Maria's shoulders and tucked the towel more securely. Maria felt warm water trickle soothingly over her scalp, and then felt gentle hands massage the shampoo in. She closed her eyes and gave in to the comfort of the moment.

Fifteen minutes later, they were posing for selfies with the entire team of hairdressers. The couple now sported identical mushroom-cuts. "Not spaghetti, but mushrooms at least," David muttered.

Once more, Maria leaned on his shoulder and they guffawed together.