[this story was inspired by Edward Hopper's "Automat"]
Seeking shelter from the cold, endless night, she plunged into the empty diner as if regurgitated from the depths of the darkness. She trudged to the counter, heels clunking on the dingy linoleum. She lightly tapped the small silver bell perched on the counter as instructed by the sign propped next to it. A teenage boy appeared from behind a faux wood partition with raised eyebrows in a silent, annoyed question. Taking no notice of the boy's discourteous gesture, she ordered a cup of coffee.
She reached into her coat pocket, and then removed three small pieces of silver while waiting at the smooth formica counter for her order. When the boy returned she exchanged the thirty cents for her mug, and then took a seat near the radiator in the corner—folding her red, wind-chapped legs underneath the table. She faced the counter, preferring the bright fluorescent lights to the inifinite blackness visible through the diner's vast plate-glass window.
She removed one of her mittens and grasped the cup's handle—relishing the heat it produced. As she lifted the cup to her crimson lips, she balanced the saucer underneath with her gloved hand. She slowly sipped the black coffee, finding comfort in the liquid heat that coated her throat. She stared at the grubby, stain specked table—crusted condiments from long past lunches of hotdogs and hamburgers created a brownish smear on the baby blue table.
She stared past the disgusting artwork, deep in thought. She pondered to herself, turning the same question over in her mind: "Why?" Her cheeks, usually a light pink, became flushed as she thought. They continued to grow red as hot tears began flowing down her face. She finished the coffee and shakily placed the saucer and cup back on the table. Squeezing her eyes shut, she managed to slow the tears. Eventually her sobs were only brief shudders. The boy, who had witnessed this show of raw emotion, softened a little.
"Hey lady, you okay?" he asked, slightly worried.
"Ayuh, I'll be fine. Thanks for the cawfee," she replied, unable to correct her heavy Bostonian accent. She wiped her face with the back of a gloved hand and stood up. Staring blankly through the glass door at the dark night that awaited her, she took a deep breath and pushed the door open, the darkness swallowing her once again.
She reached into her coat pocket, and then removed three small pieces of silver while waiting at the smooth formica counter for her order. When the boy returned she exchanged the thirty cents for her mug, and then took a seat near the radiator in the corner—folding her red, wind-chapped legs underneath the table. She faced the counter, preferring the bright fluorescent lights to the inifinite blackness visible through the diner's vast plate-glass window.
She removed one of her mittens and grasped the cup's handle—relishing the heat it produced. As she lifted the cup to her crimson lips, she balanced the saucer underneath with her gloved hand. She slowly sipped the black coffee, finding comfort in the liquid heat that coated her throat. She stared at the grubby, stain specked table—crusted condiments from long past lunches of hotdogs and hamburgers created a brownish smear on the baby blue table.
She stared past the disgusting artwork, deep in thought. She pondered to herself, turning the same question over in her mind: "Why?" Her cheeks, usually a light pink, became flushed as she thought. They continued to grow red as hot tears began flowing down her face. She finished the coffee and shakily placed the saucer and cup back on the table. Squeezing her eyes shut, she managed to slow the tears. Eventually her sobs were only brief shudders. The boy, who had witnessed this show of raw emotion, softened a little.
"Hey lady, you okay?" he asked, slightly worried.
"Ayuh, I'll be fine. Thanks for the cawfee," she replied, unable to correct her heavy Bostonian accent. She wiped her face with the back of a gloved hand and stood up. Staring blankly through the glass door at the dark night that awaited her, she took a deep breath and pushed the door open, the darkness swallowing her once again.
To learn more about the author, you can visit her site here.