Snackin’ & Vibin

 It was Saturday afternoon, and Jayla texted the group chat like she always do: “Y’all tryna go out or nah? I’m bored.”

Five minutes later, everybody hittin’ her back with “bet,” “say less,” “on my way.”
Jayla smiled. She already knew—soon as folks got bored, they looked at her to make something happen.

They all met up at the little food truck park down on Maple, the one always smellin’ like fried somethin’ and somebody’s grandma’s kitchen. Soon as Jayla stepped out the car, that BBQ smoke hit her like a hug.

“Mmm, Lord,” she said, fanning the air toward her face. “Y’all smell that? I ain’t even ate yet and I’m already full in my spirit.”

Her best friend Tasha laughed. “Girl, let’s hurry up before this line get disrespectful.”

They walked past trucks sellin’ tacos, wings, funnel cakes, jerk chicken—everything. Jayla could feel her stomach tryin’ to make decisions her brain wasn’t ready to make.

“Oooh, they got loaded fries,” she said, eyes big as dinner plates.

Tasha nudged her. “Didn’t you say you was gon’ start eatin’ better?”

Jayla stared at her like she’d said the most offensive thing. “And? I’m on break today. Leave me alone.”

They ordered enough food to feed somebody’s entire family reunion. Sitting at a picnic table under twinkly lights, everybody talkin’ over each other, mouths full, plates clatterin’, laughin’ loud enough to get looks—but nobody cared.

Jayla bit into her hot honey wing and closed her eyes like she was seein’ God. “Jesus wept… over THESE,” she said.

Everybody hollered.

After they finished eatin’, they walked around, takin’ pictures, clownin’, enjoyin’ the warm summer air. Jayla looked at her friends—grease stains on shirts, sauce on fingers, somebody still lickin’ their hands—and she felt that warm little squeeze in her chest.

“This what I love,” she said under her breath. “Good food, good people, good vibes.”

Tasha overheard. “Girl, don’t get soft now.”

Jayla rolled her eyes. “Shut up. I’m just sayin’… days like this? That’s the stuff you remember.”

Then she grabbed another fry off Tasha’s plate.

“HEY!”
“What? You ain’t even want these for real.”
“You greedy.”
“And cute. Don’t forget cute.”

They walked off still joking, bellies full, hearts happier than they’d admit out loud.