Diamond Rain: Adventure Science Fiction Mossad Thriller (The Spy Stories and Tales of Intrigue Series Book 2) by Michael James Gallagher Page A
Authors: Michael James Gallagher
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out Belfast,
Maine.
“Jesus Billy, that
takes me back some.”
“What’s that?”
“When we came here from
the old country, I was just a kid. I remember seeing the signs for Belfast
when we drove up here from Boston. It made me feel welcome here. You know I
loved it here right from the first day. So much space. I remember looking out
the back of my grandpa’s friend’s station wagon, you know, one of those ones
with the fake wood panels on the side. Anyway, I loved the big cars almost as
much as I loved the open spaces on the Atlantic. We left the ‘ troubles’ behind that day. I even forgot some of the pain about my da’s death that day
on the drive.”
“You sure had your
share of the bad luck lottery, Thomas. But you always bounced back. Just like
you’re going to this time.”
“Ya, maybe.”
“That’s the whiskey
talking, boy, not you. Let’s get some food in your gut. How long since you
had anything solid to eat?”
“It’s been nothing but
liquid lunch for a while now, Billy.”
They pulled off the
Maine Turnpike just after crossing over York River and headed for Route One.
“I’m sure I remember a
diner along this truck route somewhere near here,” Billy said. Sure enough,
just outside Kittery they came up to a diner in an old silver Airstream that’d
been enlarged to include a porch with six tables. The kitchen took over the
whole of the trailer part. Inside the smell of bacon crisping and fresh coffee
assaulted Thomas’ senses and brought back memories of his first year in
America. I always loved bacon and eggs. We never had that bacon without
rind on it in Ireland. Funny how everything from that first year is rushing
back today. Must be ’cause I’m starting fresh. Jesus. I don’t know what I’d’ve
done without Billy.
“What’ll it be, boys?”
said a friendly woman from behind her cooking counter. She was in her fifties
and had a motherly look.
“That special with
bacon, three eggs over easy and toast sounds like just what the doctor ordered,
Ma’am,” Thomas said with an enthusiasm which surprised even himself.
“You wouldn’t have a
bagel to go with that instead of toast, would you?” asked Billy.
“La di da. Young man,
we only got to brown toast here last year. You want your toast cut in
circles?” She was laughing at him.
“Make it brown and not
too toasted, please.” He grinned back.
Thomas stood up to get
the coffees she was pouring.
“I see you’re alone. I’ll
be glad to take them to the table for you.”
“You’re obviously not
from around here. Not just the way you speak, though. Use’ to be we saw
manners like that in these parts all the time.”
“Top o’ the marning to you, lassie. God bless.” Thomas said, adopting his finest lilt.
“Now that’s what I like
to hear. The same ting to you, laddie,” the woman replied, her eyes
shining. “I’ve been to the ole’ country too, you know.”
“Where’re you from,
then?”
“Don’t be bothering
me. I’ve got my work to do, you know.”
The sound of eggs frying
and bacon sizzling accompanied by all the smells of breakfast in America made
Thomas warm up inside, even if his stomach wasn’t sure it would swallow all
that food. Mother was so right to come here. Daily life is so much easier
here than in Ireland. Thanks Ma, thought Thomas, as he finished up his
first cup of coffee and downed a glass of water taken from a pitcher on the
table.
The two of them ate in
silence and kept up a repartee with the warm-hearted woman behind the counter.
“With this fare,
surprising it’s not jammed in here?” asked Billy.
“They opened up one of
them Burger King’s in town about six months ago an’ I just can’t keep up with
the offerings. That’s why I was sharp about the bagel earlier. Sorry. Not
sure I’m going to be able to keep open.”
“Once the novelty wears
off, people will trickle back in here.
Maine.
“Jesus Billy, that
takes me back some.”
“What’s that?”
“When we came here from
the old country, I was just a kid. I remember seeing the signs for Belfast
when we drove up here from Boston. It made me feel welcome here. You know I
loved it here right from the first day. So much space. I remember looking out
the back of my grandpa’s friend’s station wagon, you know, one of those ones
with the fake wood panels on the side. Anyway, I loved the big cars almost as
much as I loved the open spaces on the Atlantic. We left the ‘ troubles’ behind that day. I even forgot some of the pain about my da’s death that day
on the drive.”
“You sure had your
share of the bad luck lottery, Thomas. But you always bounced back. Just like
you’re going to this time.”
“Ya, maybe.”
“That’s the whiskey
talking, boy, not you. Let’s get some food in your gut. How long since you
had anything solid to eat?”
“It’s been nothing but
liquid lunch for a while now, Billy.”
They pulled off the
Maine Turnpike just after crossing over York River and headed for Route One.
“I’m sure I remember a
diner along this truck route somewhere near here,” Billy said. Sure enough,
just outside Kittery they came up to a diner in an old silver Airstream that’d
been enlarged to include a porch with six tables. The kitchen took over the
whole of the trailer part. Inside the smell of bacon crisping and fresh coffee
assaulted Thomas’ senses and brought back memories of his first year in
America. I always loved bacon and eggs. We never had that bacon without
rind on it in Ireland. Funny how everything from that first year is rushing
back today. Must be ’cause I’m starting fresh. Jesus. I don’t know what I’d’ve
done without Billy.
“What’ll it be, boys?”
said a friendly woman from behind her cooking counter. She was in her fifties
and had a motherly look.
“That special with
bacon, three eggs over easy and toast sounds like just what the doctor ordered,
Ma’am,” Thomas said with an enthusiasm which surprised even himself.
“You wouldn’t have a
bagel to go with that instead of toast, would you?” asked Billy.
“La di da. Young man,
we only got to brown toast here last year. You want your toast cut in
circles?” She was laughing at him.
“Make it brown and not
too toasted, please.” He grinned back.
Thomas stood up to get
the coffees she was pouring.
“I see you’re alone. I’ll
be glad to take them to the table for you.”
“You’re obviously not
from around here. Not just the way you speak, though. Use’ to be we saw
manners like that in these parts all the time.”
“Top o’ the marning to you, lassie. God bless.” Thomas said, adopting his finest lilt.
“Now that’s what I like
to hear. The same ting to you, laddie,” the woman replied, her eyes
shining. “I’ve been to the ole’ country too, you know.”
“Where’re you from,
then?”
“Don’t be bothering
me. I’ve got my work to do, you know.”
The sound of eggs frying
and bacon sizzling accompanied by all the smells of breakfast in America made
Thomas warm up inside, even if his stomach wasn’t sure it would swallow all
that food. Mother was so right to come here. Daily life is so much easier
here than in Ireland. Thanks Ma, thought Thomas, as he finished up his
first cup of coffee and downed a glass of water taken from a pitcher on the
table.
The two of them ate in
silence and kept up a repartee with the warm-hearted woman behind the counter.
“With this fare,
surprising it’s not jammed in here?” asked Billy.
“They opened up one of
them Burger King’s in town about six months ago an’ I just can’t keep up with
the offerings. That’s why I was sharp about the bagel earlier. Sorry. Not
sure I’m going to be able to keep open.”
“Once the novelty wears
off, people will trickle back in here.
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