here just looked so content. It was infectious, as she realized she was feeling content, too. Funny, the paths life sends you down sometimes. So. Food.
The waitress was right. There were several unique dishes that were either regional or specifically unique to this diner. Considering the large dining area and the filled seating, it must be pretty good. She chose a breakfast monster, something that combined every food group and then some. The blonde waitress grinned at her when she took the order five minutes later.
“You are gonna be puking that up, sweetie. Did you see what’s in it? They designed it for a lumberjack.”
“Yeah, I saw it, but I’m very hungry and it does look good.”
“Oh, it’s amazing. A favorite, no doubt. Okay, but I think I’ll bring you an alka-seltzer too. You want some coffee with it?”
Park tilted her head. “Um…no, I was thinking a large chocolate milkshake.”
Park’s waitress opened her eyes wide. “Well, I don’t know where you’ll put it, but you got it. Did ya hear we got the best milkshakes this side of the Rockies?”
“I hadn’t. Even better. Can you put a rush on the shake?”
“See what I can do.”
Park just sat back and people watched, something she really never had done before. She had been taught to avoid other people, to make herself unnoticed. She had been taught that lesson through brutal punishment, like most of her other childhood lessons. Lessons taught that strictly, you didn’t forget. And yet today, she felt her own defiance…and the victory of choosing to do what she wanted to do. Her mother was long out of her life, as well as the parade of nasty men that came and went weekly. Mother held no power over her anymore. And while Park would like to believe that, somewhere inside that little girl she used to be was still hiding in dark corners.
Not today. Today, glorious rays of brilliant sunshine blasted through the very clean glass windows and Park felt like the other diners…happy. When a few moments later, the blonde waitress came back with the shake, her eyes shined. It was huge, a tower of whip cream well above the top of the glass. And a shiny red cherry. At that moment, Park believed she had never seen anything more beautiful.
The waitress smiled the entire way across the diner. As she sat it in front of her guest, she whipped her hands into a presentation. “Huh? Did I tell you? You know, if you drink this entire shake, and try to eat that Mountain breakfast when I bring it, I’m sitting right here and watching. I gotta see this tiny body hold all that.”
Park reached for the overlong straw. “Okay,” she squinted to make out the name tag on the waitress. “Bernie. Bernie? My receptionists name is Bennie. That’s funny.”
“Well, see, we were meant to meet. My full name is Bernadette, and I hate it. But I don’t mind Bernie. You just traveling through?”
“Actually, yes. That’s why I think I’m eating everything in sight. Haven’t stopped much.”
“That’ll do it. Still, I’ll be back if you kill that thing.”
“You do that. I could use the company.”
“Well, I will. Your food won’t be much longer. Enjoy.”
“Park. My name is Park.”
“Park. Unusual. Well nice to meet you. Welcome to Pine Run.”
Bernie went to answer a wildly gesturing teen on the other side of the room. Park wondered at how easily she was speaking with Bernie, a total stranger, as if she’d known her forever. Could it be her continuing development of her empathic skill?
The first draw on the straw…ahh, it was even better than the one two nights ago. If she let herself get addicted to these, there wasn’t enough time in the world on any treadmill to mitigate the damage. Damn! This really had to be the food of the gods.
She was happily sucking away when she noticed a slender dark haired man staring at her from
The waitress was right. There were several unique dishes that were either regional or specifically unique to this diner. Considering the large dining area and the filled seating, it must be pretty good. She chose a breakfast monster, something that combined every food group and then some. The blonde waitress grinned at her when she took the order five minutes later.
“You are gonna be puking that up, sweetie. Did you see what’s in it? They designed it for a lumberjack.”
“Yeah, I saw it, but I’m very hungry and it does look good.”
“Oh, it’s amazing. A favorite, no doubt. Okay, but I think I’ll bring you an alka-seltzer too. You want some coffee with it?”
Park tilted her head. “Um…no, I was thinking a large chocolate milkshake.”
Park’s waitress opened her eyes wide. “Well, I don’t know where you’ll put it, but you got it. Did ya hear we got the best milkshakes this side of the Rockies?”
“I hadn’t. Even better. Can you put a rush on the shake?”
“See what I can do.”
Park just sat back and people watched, something she really never had done before. She had been taught to avoid other people, to make herself unnoticed. She had been taught that lesson through brutal punishment, like most of her other childhood lessons. Lessons taught that strictly, you didn’t forget. And yet today, she felt her own defiance…and the victory of choosing to do what she wanted to do. Her mother was long out of her life, as well as the parade of nasty men that came and went weekly. Mother held no power over her anymore. And while Park would like to believe that, somewhere inside that little girl she used to be was still hiding in dark corners.
Not today. Today, glorious rays of brilliant sunshine blasted through the very clean glass windows and Park felt like the other diners…happy. When a few moments later, the blonde waitress came back with the shake, her eyes shined. It was huge, a tower of whip cream well above the top of the glass. And a shiny red cherry. At that moment, Park believed she had never seen anything more beautiful.
The waitress smiled the entire way across the diner. As she sat it in front of her guest, she whipped her hands into a presentation. “Huh? Did I tell you? You know, if you drink this entire shake, and try to eat that Mountain breakfast when I bring it, I’m sitting right here and watching. I gotta see this tiny body hold all that.”
Park reached for the overlong straw. “Okay,” she squinted to make out the name tag on the waitress. “Bernie. Bernie? My receptionists name is Bennie. That’s funny.”
“Well, see, we were meant to meet. My full name is Bernadette, and I hate it. But I don’t mind Bernie. You just traveling through?”
“Actually, yes. That’s why I think I’m eating everything in sight. Haven’t stopped much.”
“That’ll do it. Still, I’ll be back if you kill that thing.”
“You do that. I could use the company.”
“Well, I will. Your food won’t be much longer. Enjoy.”
“Park. My name is Park.”
“Park. Unusual. Well nice to meet you. Welcome to Pine Run.”
Bernie went to answer a wildly gesturing teen on the other side of the room. Park wondered at how easily she was speaking with Bernie, a total stranger, as if she’d known her forever. Could it be her continuing development of her empathic skill?
The first draw on the straw…ahh, it was even better than the one two nights ago. If she let herself get addicted to these, there wasn’t enough time in the world on any treadmill to mitigate the damage. Damn! This really had to be the food of the gods.
She was happily sucking away when she noticed a slender dark haired man staring at her from
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