Big Round Pizza was located on the opposite corner of town on the shores of Big Round Lake, so it took Calvin fifteen minutes to get there. He pulled into its small parking lot.

            The restaurant was an old boat house that was converted into a pizzeria back in the seventies. The pier was still there, from what Calvin was told, and had many tables on it. Next door was Schmidt Park, which had a small beach and a few pavilions. It was Vienna’s most popular hangout during the summer.

            Calvin hurried to the front door, which was next to restaurant’s sign and said in large red letters, “Big Round Pizza, Where Your Belly Gets Big and Round.” Calvin always wondered if the management thought their tagline might be a little insulting, but he had other things on his mind right now.

            As he reached the door, a blonde young man stepped through the door carrying an insulated pizza delivery bag. “Hi, Cal!” he said.

            Calvin stopped abruptly. “Hey, Joey. I haven’t seen you in a while. How long you been working here?”

            “Too long. I’m already counting down the days ‘til summer. At least then I can see the waitresses wear swimsuits while they bus tables outside.”

            Calvin raised his eyebrows. “Sounds like we both need better jobs.”

            “Yeah.”

            “Speaking of waitresses, I need to find one inside.”

            “Why? She your date?”

            Calvin laughed. “No. I have something she lost.”

            Joe shrugged. “Alrighty. I gotta take this delivery. See ya!”

            They went in opposite directions.

            Calvin entered the restaurant. To his right were a few dozen tables packed with patrons and several very busy waitresses. A big screen TV was hung on the opposite wall, but it was off. To his left was the counter with a cash register, and behind that was the kitchen. A well-lit Christmas tree was next to the door. The sounds of clinking dishes and dinging timers emanated from the kitchen. The robust smells of pizza and freshly baked bread filled the air.

            A young waitress with dyed fire-engine red hair and a black shirt with the Big Round Pizza logo—a gigantic pizza—on it stepped up to him, menus in hand. Her nametag read, “Nicole.”

            “Hello. How many in your party tonight?”

            “I’m sorry. I’m not here to eat. I came to find someone,” replied Calvin.

            “Who’s that, fella? Make it quick, I have tables to check on.”

            “I’m looking for someone who works here named Jen. I have something that belongs to her.”

            “She’s not here. She took the night off to go on a date with her boyfriend.” Nicole sighed, looking doe-eyed. “I’m so jealous of my BFF. I wish I had a boyfriend like hers.”

             Calvin snapped his fingers in disappointment. “Do you know where they went?”

            Nicole returned to reality after a second and replied, “They went downtown to get dinner and see a movie. I think they were going to one of the special screenings of ‘Superman.’”

            “So I need to get to the Haydn Theatre. Thanks!”

            “What are you trying to give her, anyway?” asked Nicole.

            Calvin glanced at the bag in his hand. “I think it’s a gift for her boyfriend.”

            Nicole gasped. “She lost it? I can’t believe it! She saved up for over month to buy something for him!”

            Calvin turned to head for the door. “Then she needs it now!”

            He exited.
 

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