what did you say this place was called again? sal asked eddie again.
ruby’s .
i never knew it had a name. i thought it was just a place.
it’s just what people call it. it might not be on their license or anything.
if it has a license.
it has a license. count on it.
eddie pushed open the door.
daisy was sitting at the counter. she had a cup of coffee in front of her. she was the only customer.
an old woman with white hair was behind the counter. was she ruby? eddie and sal did not ask.
eddie sat down on daisy’s left. sal looked around and then sat down on eddie’s left.
the guy has not been in here, daisy said.
we saw him coming through the park, eddie told her.
so it’s all taken care of?
i guess.
you gentlemen want anything? the old woman who might have been ruby asked.
i’ll have a cup of coffee, eddie told her. i ‘m thirsty. we had a long trip over here.
how about you, sir?
water, sal said.
just water?
he’ll leave a good tip, eddie said. he’s a big spender. i guarantee it.
the woman brought eddie his coffee and sal his water and went back to the end of the counter, away from the door.
you guys need a ride anywhere? daisy asked.
no, we’re good, eddie told her.
*
daisy waited for five minutes after eddie and sal left.
then she got up and left herself.
she looked around when she got outside on the street. there was no sign of eddie or sal.
she walked a block down third street, away from the park.
her car was parked behind the station. it was the only car there. the station was closed.
she unlocked the car and got in.
the stranger was sitting in the back seat.
it went o k? daisy asked him.
it seemed to.
then i guess our work here is done.
the stranger did not bother to answer.
daisy turned the key in the ignition.
she pulled out of the station lot and headed west, out of town.
*
dave stopped at the crossroads.
night was falling.
the two roads stretched east and west , north and south, the way they do.
the only thing in sight was a run down gas station, but it was closed, and looked like it might be deserted.
there used to be a town here, dave said.
really? judy answered. was it a nice town?
it might have been, dave told her.
they headed east.
the end
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment