I drove to an all-night diner tonight.
It’s Friday night…—the place is packed.
Being alone, I grabbed a seat up front.
My waitress, “Ms. Becky,” was supposed to get off work at 9 PM.
It’s now 9:15 PM EST.
She’s talking to a co-worker as I sit down. “I guess I ain’t getting out anytime soon tonight.”
She walks over to wait on me.
“Honey, whatcha gone’ have tonight?”
“Coffee and water. Cream for the coffee, please.”
“That’s easy ’nuff.”
She sits my coffee down for me.
“I’ll get the water in just a sec.”
There are parties of 4 waiting to be seated.
People are coming in to get call-in orders.
Everyone is talking to each other.
—It’s loud.
Ms. Becky sits my water down for me.
“You know whatcha want?”
“Yes, ma’am. The ‘All-Star’ with hashbrowns instead of grits, eggs over easy, bacon, and waffle.”
“Easy ’nuff.”
She shouts my order to the cook, “Pull one bacon, throw the hash through the shredder, make the eggs smile and throw in a waffle.”
At least, that is what it sounded like to me… 🙂
“I hope you get to leave soon, ma’am,” I say to Ms. Becky.
“Me too. I’m beat…”
“You’re beat to the socks.”
“Yep.”
Ms. Becky is all over the place, taking care of customers.
I want to ask her questions, but she is too busy. I don’t dare bother her. But I did want to know more about her and maybe get a story to write.
My meal comes, and Ms. Becky refills my coffee.
I tell her, “Thank you,” and say, “I’m good. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”
Around 9:40 PM, I pay my bill, and Ms. Becky and I exit the building simultaneously.
“Thank you for coming tonight, Sir,” She says to me.
“Thank you as well, ‘Ms. Becky,'” and I hop in my vehicle to leave.
—Maybe I’ll get her story another time.
