Life Hacks/It seems that you're starting now
"Okay," you say with a laugh, "I like the enthusiasm, but I don't know if your mom's okay with us starting right away."
"Oh," says Patricia, "if you're busy."
"Not at all, right Roni."
"Yeah, we're good!" she says with a smile. "But I am pretty hungry."
"Yeah," you say, "it is about lunchtime."
"There's a problem with that," says Patricia. "We're Vegan, and there isn't a decent Vegan restaurant for fifty miles." That would explain a lot. While a Vegan diet is very healthy, it is difficult to manage. The boy is likely suffering from a lack of dietary energy, iron, and vitamin b-12 . . . all of which can be compensated for in a Vegan diet if one is thorough and eats fortified Vegan foods . . . which you assume is not the case in this instance. "I suppose if you boys are insistent on starting today . . ."
"Pleeease, mommy!" begs Dante.
"Alright, alright," she laughs, "why don't you two join us at our house for lunch?"
"Ummm, I don't eat bugs," says Roni.
"No kiddo," you say with a laugh, "Vegan means they only eat plants. No meat, eggs, or dairy products."
"But I wanted a cheeseburger!"
"I'm pretty sure you can have a veggie burger with soy cheese."
"Blech," she says with a frown, "that's not a cheeseburger."
"How do you know you don't like it? You haven't even tried it."
"Fine, but I'm still not eating bugs . . . at least not for less than five dollars." You all laugh at what was presumably a joke. Looking in her face lets you know it wasn't however.
"We'd love to join you," you say to Patricia, "Roni could use some exposure to alternate diets. Thank you for the invitation."
"Great, did you drive or . . ."
"Oh, we walked," you say, then quickly add, "we only live four blocks from the park."
"Lucky," says Dante.
"Well then," says Patricia, "I guess I'm driving. Ummm . . . everyone be sure to pat the dust off the best you can before getting in the car please."
What do you do?
