On the Road: a City of the Mind

(3 of 3)

Coors turns bright red. She glares at him. "You saw my ex in here last Saturday night with a chippie on his arm. He comes in here all the time with two, three chippies just to prove to me what a high old time he's having. If that's a good time, I'd rather baby-sit my grandkids."

Chippies are not a topic of conversation that Charlie and Coors wish to pursue. Coors breaks a doughnut in two, and Charlie uses his fork to make a spillway for the gravy on the double order of mashed potatoes that accompanies his scrambled eggs.

Flossie comes back and turns to the new customer in mirror shades at this dark hour, a young trucker with cowboy boots and hat. "John-boy. Where you been? Haven't seen you in weeks. Looks like you need a nice omelet. Cook just made some of those biscuits you like too."

I leave a tip for Flossie and pay my bill. In the men's room, where I am shunted because the ladies' is closed for cleaning, someone has scrawled poignant words: NO TIME TO EAT NOW.