Ally stood behind the counter of The Little Ice Cream Parlor in one of Long Beach's many shopping centers near the coast.  It usually gained a lot of business, considering the normally hot weather, but today was a bit chilly.  Although they parlor didn't gain many customers on this particular day, a few spotted up here and there.  Currently, she was chatting with one of her coworkers while she cleaned the back counters.

"Yeah, I know she shouldn't have called in so late, but she's sick, I can't have her getting us and customers sick too," Ally defended, picking up little sprinkles and peanuts.

"You should have made her come in for at least a few hours," her coworker replied, pushing a broom across the tiled floor.

"Maybe if we were more busy, but look around.  Do you see any customers?" Ally asked just as the door opened and a tall man walked in.

Both of the young women behind the counter immediately rang out, "Hi, welcome!" out of instinct.  Ally put aside the cloth and moved to the front to help the customer.  "Hey, how may I help you?" she asked casually.

"You guys make smoothies?" he asked.

"Yes, they come in small and large," she replied, pointing to the cups of each respective size.

"Gimme a large banana and blue berry smoothie.  Make it thick, I don't like them watery," he said, slightly forcefully.  Ally didn't think too much of it, as many customers were rude or rushed in demeanor.

So, as to not make an already irritated customer angry, Ally quickly made the smoothie and handed it to him.  "You didn't put strawberries in this, did you?" he asked.

"No, just the banana and blue berries," she confirmed.

He nodded, and with that, the man simply walked out the door.  Ally was momentarily shocked, and so was her coworker.  Once she registered what was happening, she quickly launched herself over the counter and out the front door.  "Hey!  You need to pay for that!" she shouted as she went after him, but it was too late.  The man had a getaway car waiting for him.

Many people watched the scene, and like her they were all powerless to do anything about it.  Ally let out a sigh, shook her head and walked back into the parlor.

"I have security on the phone!" her coworker told her, voice shaking.  Ally didn't understand why the younger woman was so nervous, but as the girl tried to speak to security, her voice kept trembling and failing.  Ally sighed again, took the phone and gave security the description of the man.  Really he could have matched half the city with his generic "thug" look.

"Alright ma'am, we'll get on it," the voice on the other end said and hung up.  Ally knew this was a lie.  What could they possibly do to stop anything?  The security here was just for show and to stop skateboarders.  Other than that, they just called police who weren't always the best help either.  The woman put down the phone and sat down on a folding chair in the back.

The irritated woman threw her hat with the store's logo onto the computer desk and leaned back into the chair, closing her eyes.  "Hey, I'm taking a break!" she shouted to her coworker who was still shocked in the front.  She needed to calm down or else she might do something stupid.

[i]"It'll be alright, they'll all get what they deserve in the end,"[/i] she thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days later, Ally sat at a metal table with the usual group of friend she spent time with.  Being with them always brought her peace, even if what they were doing wasn't too peaceful.  Right now, the group was seated in a shopping center at a circular metal table, in metal chairs.  An umbrella stuck out of the center of the table, providing only half with shade.  The sun wasn't blistering, but it wasn't exactly a cool day either.  Many people walked in and out through the shops, minding their own business, providing the group of friends the privacy of a crowd.

At the moment, Ally was recounting her story about the smoothie thief.  "This guy even had a getaway car!  He's so thug that he needs a partner to steal a smoothie?" she shook her head and murmured, "So ridiculous."

"What about you guys?  Anything interesting come up?"