MARCH 16, 2023
DINER
Before he arrived in Man, Liam stopped at Clara’s Roadside Diner, which advertised specials on Fridays in the small front window. He noticed two large fans turning slowly below a yellowed tin ceiling. Five booths along the wall were upholstered with red vinyl, as were the stools in front of a long, faded yellow countertop. The brown floor tiles were cracked at most corners.
An older woman with high bleach blond hair walked toward the corner booth holding a glass of water in one hand and balancing a menu, napkin, and silverware in the other. Her name tag read “Emma.” She asked, as all the words flowed together, “Would you like some coffee, honey?”
“No, water’s fine.”
“I don’t know about the water honey, but it’s better in the coffee.” Sighing, she grabbed the pen behind her ear and a green ordering pad from her pocket. “The special today is two dogs with sauce and slaw.”
Liam questioned, “Sauce and slaw?”
“You ain’t from around here, are you, honey?”
“No.”
“I was kidding, honey. I knew that just by looking at you,” she laughed. “Sauce and slaw is chili and coleslaw. Try it. You’ll like it.”
“Ok, I’ll give it a try. Where is the restroom, Ma’am?”
She shouted, “Ma’am!” Looking back at the counter, she teased, “We got us a real gentleman here, Josephine.”
“I’m just teasing honey.” She pointed to the back of the diner and said, “Watch your step.” She walked over to the counter and shouted, “Dogs with sauce and slaw.”
Liam walked to the back of the restaurant. The restroom was in a narrow hallway, made even narrower by a bucket and mop. The combination of mildew and bleach cut the air. Cleaning supplies lined the floor. Liam opened the door to a small bathroom. The sink and toilet were stained, and the mirror above the sink was cracked. An Asian man with jet black hair, a blue suit, a blue tie with small purple squares, and a white tailored shirt stared back at him. It dawned on him how out of place he looked.
During dinner, he looked at his phone. There were no updates from Liz or the assistant director.
The waitress placed the bill on the table. “Here you go, honey. Can I get you anything else?”
“No, but I do have a question. In Naoma, I saw a sign that read Coal River Mountain Watch. Do you know what that refers to?”
She reached up to her glasses and moved them down slightly. Looking over her glasses, she commented, “Now, aren’t you full of surprises? They are an environmental group. They certainly have their place with all that goes on in those hills. Some folks don’t like them because we need jobs, honey, but what those rich folks are doing to the mountains is a crime. During the day you can hear the blasting on Darknight Mountain. When I go out to my car, it is covered in dust. It just ain’t right. That’s how I see it, anyway. People got their own opinions. Pay at the register. Have a good day.”
In the car, Liam looked at Google Maps and saw that if he kept going southwest, he would reach Highway 10, which would take him directly to Man. Liam searched Google for motels between Naoma and Man. He would have to continue driving this evening because the nearest one was outside Man, Trails Inn.