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TheDineratMidnight-深夜客栈
I＇vebeeninlotsofdiners,andthey＇vealwaysseemedtobewarm,busy,friendly,happyplaces.That＇swhy,onarecentMondaynight,Istoppedinadinerforacupofcoffee.Iwasreturninghomeafteranalldaycartripandneededsomethingtohelpmemakethelastforty-fivemiles.Adineratmidnight,however,wasnottheplaceIhadexpected.Itwasdiffhrent,andlonely.
MyToyotapulledtoahaltinfrontofthedrearygrayaluminumbuildingthatlookedlikeanoldrailroadcar.Ahalf-litneonsignsputteredthemessage,"Freshbakedgoodsdaily,"onthesurfaceoftherain-slickparkinglot.Onlyahalfdozencarsandabatteredpickupwerescatteredaroundthelot.Anemptypapercoffeecupmadeahollowscrapingsoundasitrolledinsmallcirclesononecementstepclosetothedinerentrance.Ipulledhardatthebalkyglassdoor,andithangedshutbehindme.
ThedinerwasquietwhenIentered.Astherewasnohostessonduty,onlythefaintodorofstalegreaseandthedullhumofanemptyrefrigeratedpastrycasegreetedme.Ilookedaroundforaplacetosit.Theoutsidewallswerelinedwithemptyboothswhichsquattedbacktobackintheirorangevinylupholstery.Oneachspeckledbeige-and-goldtableweretheusualaessories.Thekitchenhidmysteriouslybehindtwoswingingmetaldoorswithroundwindows.Iglancedthroughthesewindowsbutcouldseeonlyaparttothelarge,apparentlydesertedcookingarea.Facingthekitchendoorswasthecounter.IapproachedthelengthofFormicaandslidontooneofthecrackedvinylseatsboltedinsoldierlikestraightlinesinfrontofit.
Thepeopleinthedinerseemedaslonelyastheplaceitself.Twomeninrumpledworkshirtssatatthecounter,onstoolsseveralfeetapart,staringwearilyintocupsofcoffeeandsmokingcigarettes.Theirfacessproutedwhatlookedlikedaylongstubblesofheard.Ifiguredtheywereprobablyshiftworkerswho,forsomereason,didn＇twanttogohome.Threestoolsdownfromtheworkers,Ispottedathinyoungmanwithamopofblack,curlyhair.HewasdressedinbrownLevicordswithacheckedwesternstyleshirtunbuttonedattheneck.HeworeablankexpressionashepickedataplateoflimpFrenchfries.Iwonderedifhehadjustreturnedfromadisappointingdate.Attheoneoupiedboothwasanfiddle-agedcouple.Theyhadn＇tgottenanyfoodyet.Hewasstaringoffintospace,ldlytappinghisspoonagainstthetable,whileshedrewaimlessparallellinesonherpapernapkinwithabentdinerfolk.Neithersaidawordtotheother.
Finally,afired-lookingwaitressapproachedmewithherthickorderpad.Iorderedthecoffee,butIwantedtodrinkitfastandgetoutofthere.Mycar,andthesolitarymilesaheadofme,wouldbelonely.Buttheywouldn＇tbeaslonelyasthatdineratmidnight.