The Diner ~ a story I wrote

"Do you want a piece of pie for desert, Dear?" Elise my smiling, gum chewing waitress asks me,
expecting me to answer her, even though I have a mouthful of mashed taters in my mouth.
I just shrugg and nodd a yes.


This is a truck driver's life. Drive all day and half the night.
Find a 24 hr. diner with a parking lot big enough to park a semi tractor trailer,
go in, sit down and eat a freshly cooked hot meal. I have been to many a diner,
and in each and every one of them, the waitress, no matter what her name or age,
waits till you have a spoonful of soup, or a mouthful of food in your mouth, before she asked you, the 'do you's'. Never fails.


The next question will cause me to swallow hard, making me miss out on the
enjoyment of the flavor of the brown gravy mixed expertly by yours truly.

"What kind sweetie?" she asks. I swallow hard.

"I hav'nt decided yet, Elise, give me a moment please," I say smiling, and
without complaint, for after all this is late late Christmas eve, and Elise is
wearing her red little elfs hat, complete with the white feaux fur trim, and a
puffy white ball at the tip. Makes me smile everytime I look up from my dinner.

"Okay, Suger just let me know when you've decided," she says, with a lil wink and a smile.

I smile back, "Sure thing, hon. will do,"


I watch the waitress walk over to the coffee maker, pour out the dregs of the pot, and start a fresh
one. Yup makes me smile. Looking around the empty diner, well all empty cept me, the waitress Elise,
and the fry cook Sam, kindof makes me homesick. Yup this is a trucker's life, 2588 miles from the one
He loves and misses, on late late Christmas eve so late its almost Christmas, but freight dont know
that, and somebody's got to haul it, guess that makes it my turn in the barrow.


Not fretting, for that is 'trucking' I go back and attempt to expertly mix the brown gravy covering the
chopped steak, mixed further into the mashed taters. thinks to self ~'If I cut a piece off and stabb it
witha fork, and then mix the gravy and then mash the forkfull of steak into the mashed taters ....'~

"Ringalinglie" , the bell hanging above the door, chimes.

Elise and I both look to see who walked in.

Stamping the snow off his black leather lineman boots is the largest man I have ever seen. Not just
large but rotund, big and round, huge bear of a man, and the paws to match. Dressed in a green and
light grey plaid winter woolen jacket, sporting a fur lined troopers cap, you know the kind
with the ear flaps? Spilling out of the top of his jacket was a very white beard, full and falling down to
the pockets on the front of his jacket. What interesed me is that his mustash was braided, on both
sides of his mouth and running the length of his beard. Interesting that.

When he looked up from the snow releasing boot stomp cerimony, to examine the establishment, I
noticed his Nordic blue eyes, overshadowed by ermin white eyebrows, snow burnt cheeks and a nose
which gave me the impression he loves the nip of a snapps every now and then, it was so red. Noticing
me noticing him, he smiled, eyes lighting up as he did. I smiled back, the best I could, seeing I had a
mouthful full of ground steak and mashed taters, cheek all puffed out. Must of made an impression,
for he laughed a deep soulful laff, came on over and sat right there down next to me, one stool over.

I swallowed hard.

"My name is Wacho," I said holding out that hand.

"Bishop, my name is Bishop, please to meet you Wacho," he said as he grasp my hand firmly
with his right bear sized paw. We shook hands. "Nice diner here," he starts, "Lucky to find it. Thought
I'd never reach a place to get warm in. Been out in that weather for an hour now. That your rig out
there in the parking lot? Nice."

"Call me Caveman, Bishop, that be my CB handle hand, and it that bad out there? Dint figure the
snow would be so bad, twernt that bad when I got here," I stated. "So you were out in it? Um.. what
Bishop you broke down or something? And yes sir that's my rig, proud of her I am, love her almost
as much as the one I miss. 550 heavy duty horses, plowing the asphalt. Can I buy you a cup of coffee
to mayhaps get you warmed up, My treat, " I say smiling, a 'I'm serious' smile.


"Thankyou Caveman, yes, thankyou, I will take you up on your offer for the coffee," humbly
answering my offer. "Yes its that bad out there, and yes I am broke down, bout seven miles
down on the state hwy. I have a road crew coming in to fix her, but I had to get on down the road,
I have an appointment I cant miss, so started to walk there, when I found this place, and thought
I would get warned up before going on."



"Good, Bishop. Elise!" I called to the waitress "Ma'am a cup of Joe for my friend here, on my ticket,
if you please!" and turning to Bishop I ask, "Man you hungry? Sam prepares a mean ground steak, or
go ahead and pick something from the menu, again my treat."


"No no, Caveman, I'm fine, been nibblin and snacking all night. Coffee will be just fine," he says.

"Well how bout a pie or some cake. Everybody gots room for pie." I say, seriousness projected.

"You dont give up do you Caveman?" Bishop remarked.

"No sir I dont, charity never gives up, soo join me in some desert?"

Bishop then looked at me, as if I said something important, and replies, "You know, you are correct
Caveman, charity never gives up. Okay then, what kind of desert did you have in mind."

"Cheesecake. Not just a slice, but the whole cake. Caint eat a whole one," I say pondering, "well I
can eat a whole cheesecake, but I dont want to seem glutenous, so lets say we split a whole cherry
topped cheesecake and call it good." I say smiling wide, with as much glee as I can muster.

"Ha hahahahaha, Okay Wacho.. um.. Caveman, lets split a whole cheesecake. I have a soft
spot for the pie which is a cake also, you talked me into it," Bishop confessed.

"I heard you, Okay, one whole cheesecake split in two," Elise suprisingly said, while pouring
Bishop his cup of coffee. She must of been listening in. Waitresses. Got to love em.

"SAM!! One whole box of number FOUR, split it in TWO, divide and conquor on separate plates,"
Elise bellowed. Yup got to luv em.

Elise brougt us our plates, each having one whole half of a whole cherry topped cheesecake. Life caint
get no better than this. At least on Christmas eve. Well it could but this will have to do for now.

Bishop and I tore into our respective 'slices'. Drinking cups of coffee that seemed to never run out,
due to the diligence of our waitress, keeping them full. We were on a mission, all three of us. Elise
a pouring coffee, Bishop expertly brandishing his fork, slice stab and eat. Me, my technique was more
of a fencing mode. slice slice slice and eat eat eat, drink a mouthful of coffee and back to slice slice slice..
chomp chomp chomp. Love cheesecake, I do. It IS the ultimate desert.

Empty plates a pushed back. Bishop rubbing his belly, [long trip that] and me stuffed to the gills,
also rubbing my belly [another long trip that] Lmao, and Elise going back to make another fresh pot
of coffee. looking up I smile at her elfs cap still.

Bishop looks at me with a bit of sadness in his eyes, and says, "Thankyou Caveman, that was
a wonderful gift. I am much obliged."

"Bishop whats the matter?" I ask. "Its only a cheesecake, aint no big deal, but I see sadness in your
eyes my friend. How can I help. Just tell me, if I can help I will. If I cant, I cant. Whats on your mind."
I say, almost knowing his answer.

"Okay, my friend Wacho, I wont beat around the bush. I need a ride. When I saw your rig, I was a
hoping I could convince you to give me a ride to my last appointment. I have been making multiple
deliveries all night, and my rig broke down, just right before my last appointment. King I need a ride.
will you help me?" this large man asked.

"Bishop!" I pronounce, "I am twenty five hundred and eighty eight miles from the one I truly love.
She has a heart of gold, and I miss her terribly bad. So in her honor, and because its now Christmas,
I will take you to where you need to be, to make your appointment on time if we can. Where is it you
need to be? and how do we get there from here?"


The biggest smile, ever seen, splayed accross Bishop's broad face.

The lights in the diner, all of a sudden went out. Dark, no light not even from the coffee pot. And
just as sudden as the lights went out .... they came back on.

I was looking at Bishop as the lights went out, and when they came back on... he then explained the
what's and where's and when's, as if the black out had not occured.


"Its about sixty miles up Highway Six. The turnoff is a little Farm to Market road, called FM 42, and
from there just go to the end, and we will be there, where I need to meet up with a young woman,
who has just given birth to her first child. I have need to give her a gift and to see her child. Is that
suitable," he said and asked respectfully.

Without even answering him, I reach in my pocket pulling out my money, streak off a twenty and
and a ten and throw them on the counter. I announce, "Elise, that should be enough for the whole
ticket and a tip. Merry Christmas, thankyou for working on a holiday and have a happy New Year."

"OH, yes thats enough and your welcome, thankyou for the tip! drive safe you guys.", she said.

"Come on Bishop, if we are gonna get there, we got to go."

Bishop drank down the last remaining coffee in his cup, and stood up to walk out. I zipped up
my jacket, and the both of us walked out to my truck.

As we got into my truck, warm as I had left it running on idle, Bishop getting into the bumper seat
and me into the drivers seat, Bishop asked me an odd question. "Caveman are you a christian?"

"No Bishop, I am not. I am a Barbarian, and so it shall rest at that."

Bishop rested his chin on hes chest, lips moving inaudible, then he said, "Okay, that is well, lets
go up this highway, and I will show you where to turn off, then we will be near where we need to be."

I drew a line in my logg book, pushed in the clutch, put her in gear, and took off easing up out
of the parking lot and up onto the highway. Here we went a grabbing gears and getting up to speed.
Oh how I love driving a big rig truck.

The snow was heavy, almost could not see out of the windshield. Ice formed on the edges of glass.
The defrost of the truck working over time, as so was the windshield wipers. Aint nuffin new. So here
we went, making small talk. I think that my proclamaition and truth of Me being a Barbarian, through
bishop alil of guard. dont matter none. We still were talking like we were long lost friends. Bishop
has a great sense of humor, and kept me laughing all down the highway.


Bishop tells me a joke. I listen.


"There was this gunslinger all drunk, and full of liquor, see? Well he went out of the saloon, and
spied this old prospector, out about ready to get his donkey all packed up. The gunslinger went
to the prospector and asked him in a very loud voice, 'Hey old man, you ever learn how to dance'
the prospector said No never have. The gunslinger said,' well nows the time to learn,' then he
unholstered his colt 45 and started shooting at the feet of the old prospector. The old man started
to jump around, dancing away from the bullets hitting the ground at his feet. The gunslinger just
a laughing at the old prospector, spent all six of his bullets. Holstering his piece, the gunslinger
turned to go back into the saloon and go a drinking some more. Before he got to the swinging
doors, he felt a double barrel shotgun on his face. With only his eyes he turned to see the old
prospector with his fingers on both triggers. O.O. The old prospector says to the drunk gunslinger,
'hey ####### you ever learn how to kiss a #######?' the gunslinger says 'No never have.' the old
prospector then says to the drunk gunslinger....' Well its time to learn, huh?'


"Bruahahahaha" I
guffawed.

Bishop then says, "The turnoff is just up a bit, maybe a half a mile."

"K," I says.


Deep into the snow, I see this sign, reading FM 42. I begin gearing down. put on blinker and turn
blindly into and off the highway. Remarkable hitting the old country road. Noticing the traction
which is near non-existant, I kick in my interaxle differentials. [kick in My drives] so I have all eight
drive tires giving traction. swweeeeet. Have I said yet how much I love driving Big Trucks?

As we travell this skinney lil twisty follow the river road, Ol' Bishop dont say nuffin, just mumbles
inaudibly as before. Fogg appears. thick ###### fogg. I aint never. But being the proffesional driver
and not giving into nature, I just drive. albiet slower, but drive nonetheless through this thick caint
see past the large car hood of My truck fogg.

Dang'it this is thick

I turn on the fm radio, for comfort and get the guess who aplaying ~ no sugar

We jamm.

"We are almost there, just keep doing what you are doing driver, wont be long," Bishop finnally
said something. a good something.

"Turn here," Bishop all of a sudden directs.

So I look and see that the thick fogg is clearing enough to see a turnoff , almost like a desert road.
I grab the gears and bring them down to seventh, brake her down and turn.

The road started to get real rough then. As if it aint never been paved. The fogg was still thick,
so I could not tell. After about 3 minutes Bishop says, "Stop here. this is it."

Gearing down and applying brakes, hard for I know not what is in front of me. I stop. Bishop
smiles and says, "You can stay here or follow me, you are welcome to follow should you wish,
but in any event, my friend Wacho the Caveman, I thank you for getting me here."


"I will go with you Bishop," I say. Pulling the yellow parking brake. the sound of the air escaping
can be heard in the silence of the night.

We exit the truck. Bishop on his side and me out the driver's side. I meet up with Bishop in front
of the truck. still foggy as all get out. but the warnth of the radiator, allows us to get a type of solemn
comfort. Bishop walks into the fog, I follow.

Into the foggy midst, I can barelly see Bishop's green winter plaid jacket. More over what I see is
his bulk. then all of a sudden, like the lights going out at the diner, the fogg clears, and i see a rock
out crop, one huge slab of stone laying upon others.

There is a shallow cave.

I see it for a light emminates from it. Bishop walks right to it. I follow.


We enter into this makeshift stable. The familiar smell of animal is all to present, but not pungent
as one would expect. In here there is a man, dress in arabic robes of some sort and also a young
woman, and before her is a stone troph, a block of rock hollowed out for to fit grain as to let chattle
and bovines to eat from.

In that troph lay a small baby, all wrapped you cept his toes and little chest and hands and his
adorable face. Sucha beautiful infant. Seems by his look to be only a half a day old if not less.
Bishop kneels in front of the troph and starts his inaudible wordings, me well, I just reach out
that hand to the obvious dad and shake his hand. Then as is proper, I bow my head at the mother,
of this beautiful child, and kneel down next to Bishop.

Bishop took of his trooper cap, and lo and behold, Father Christmas is balled. huh go figure. But he
knelt down and worship this child. I could hear Bishops inaudible noises. He was praying the
Divine Mercy. huh? but surley no! this aint the Christ child no! that happen um 2014 years ago.
Yet I reamained kneeling. Now I am no christian, but I still knelt to the ground, the hard ground, and
felt relieved that it was hard and stoney and not soft, not even and not level.


We enter into this makeshift stable. The familiar smell of animal is all to present, but not pungent
as one would expect. In here there is a man, dress in arabic robes of some sort and also a young
woman, and before her is a stone troph, a block of rock hollowed out for to fit grain as to let chattle
and bovines to eat from.

In that troph lay a small baby, all wrapped you cept his toes and little chest and hands and his
adorable face. Sucha beautiful infant. Seems by his look to be only a half a day old if not less.
Bishop kneels in front of the troph and starts his inaudible wordings, me well, I just reach out
that hand to the obvious dad and shake his hand. Then as is proper, I bow my head at the mother,
of this beautiful child, and kneel down next to Bishop.

Bishop took of his trooper cap, and lo and behold, Father Christmas is balled. huh go figure. But he
knelt down and worship this child. I could hear Bishops inaudible noises. He was praying the
Divine Mercy. huh? but surley no! this aint the Christ child no! that happen um 2014 years ago.
Yet I reamained kneeling. Now I am no christian, but I still knelt to the ground, the hard ground, and
felt relieved that it was hard and stoney and not soft, not even and not level.

I stood up and nodded a polite manner at his mother, and then went over and shook the hand,
of his father, and walked out of the cave, leaving Bishop. When I stepped out of the cave, it was
daylight. Christmas morning. Families are together, loved ones are together, and its just seems like
such a peaceful time. So I wait for Bishop.

Bishop comes out a few minutes after me, and grabs me by the elbow and shakes my hand. "Thank
you Caveman, for bringing me here. I am going to stay, and you can stay too if you want," he said, to
me.

"No Bishop, I cant stay, freight dont wait. And I need to be going my own way now, anyhow," I
said. "I appreciate you getting me to bring you here. Take care of that family Bishop."

I didnt say nothing else. Bishop just patted me on my shoulder, and said, "Okay Wacho, just
go out towards the way we came in, and follow the road, when you get to the highway, go right, for
then you will only be but a few miles away from your reciever. There is a diner there too. Dont ask
how it will happen, just trust that that is where you will be."


"K Bishop, I figured as much, ok. Take care Bishop." and I left him, got back into my truck and
drove away, back the wa I had come, and down the old rough road, throught the thick fogg again.
When I emerged from the fogg, I saw the highway, made a right, drove past the place I had to deliver
at in the morning, and then saw this little diner, not far from it. Pull in the parking lot, parked and
went in, sat down at the counter, turned the coffee cup over to show the waitress
I wanted coffee, and began reading the breakfast menu.

The waitress came on over with a greeting, that I just nodded at, and poured me a cupp of coffee.
Reading the menu in one hand, thinking about what happened last night in in my brain, and taking
sip of the hot coffee, the waitress waiting till I had a good mouthful, says to me, "Have you
decided what you want yet, sweetie?"

I swallow hard, and just smile. Yep got to love em.

 

I do appreciate that plumblucky, and yes I very much intend to write more. tis a passion of mine to write stories.

Seez em whilst I drive and writes em whilst I be parked up for the night.

again thankyou

however I just got a chance to proofread it, and see my mistakes, but for some reason I cannot edit it more ... so I apologize for all the typos and double paragraphs. will do better the future