"WELCOME TO ALBIEVILLE" IS A WORK OF FICTION. THE CHARACTERS INVOLVED ARE FICTITIOUS AND ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REAL PEOPLE IS COMPLETELY COINCIDENTAL.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
*SPECIAL NOTE
*PAY NOT ATTENTION TO THE DATES OF EACH POSTING. POSTING DATES HAVE BEEN CHANGED IN ORDER FOR THE STORYLINE TO RUN IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
WELCOME TO ALBIEVILLE
WELCOME TO THE FICTITIOUS TOWN OF ALBIEVILLE, MAINE AND IT'S INHABITANTS. THE CHARACTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS BLOG ARE COMPLETELY FICTITIOUS THOUGH SOME MAY BE LOOSELY BASED ON REAL PEOPLE. THERE IS NO AGENDA HERE. HOPEFULLY THE CITIZENS OF ALBIEVILLE WILL TAKE US WHERE THEY WANT US TO GO. FEEL FREE TO COMMENT. ENJOY THE RIDE!
Monday, January 11, 2010
THE STORE
THE SLAM OF THE HARDWARE STORE DOOR WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE USUAL BELL SLAP AS DANA LEFT. IT WAS ANOTHER FRIGID JANUARY DAY IN ALBIEVILLE AND BARRY FELT THE COLD RUSH OF AIR PASS BY HIM BEFORE THE HEATING UNIT KICKED ON WITH A SWOOSH, RETURNING THE AREA BY THE CASH REGISTER TO A MORE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE. IT HAD BEEN A SLOW DAY IN HARDWARE RETAIL. DANA WAS ONE OF THE FEW CUSTOMERS WHO CAME IN SO FAR THAT WEDNESDAY. THE OLD MAN WAS IN HIS 70'S AND HAD DROPPED IN TO CATCH UP ON THE LOCAL GOSSIP AND GET A SMALL DOSE OF SOCIALIZATION BEFORE RETURNING HOME. DANA'S DOG, CHAMP, WHO WAITED IN THE CAR, PROVIDED DANA WITH MOST OF HIS DAILY COMPANIONSHIP, THE HARDWARE STORE PROVIDING A PORTION OF THE REMAINDER. MOST OF THE 1,012 CITIZENS OF ALBIEVILLE CAUGHT UP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND NEWS OF CURRENT EVENTS AT THE STORE ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN BELOW ZERO TEMPS AND DEEP SNOW KEPT PEOPLE INDOORS UNTIL A NEED AROSE, A NEED LIKE FROZEN PIPES OR SNOW SHOVELS. THE ONLY OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS IN TOWN WITH SIMILAR SOCIALIZATION POSSIBILITIES WERE THE TWO GROCERY STORES, ALBIEVILLE GROCERY AND CLIFF'S STOP N SAVE. EACH GROCERY STORE HAD A NUMBER OF LOYAL FOLLOWERS BUT IN A SMALL TOWN SUCH AS ALBIEVILLE, THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH CUSTOMERS TO MAKE EITHER STORE THRIVE. EACH GROCER WAS LUCKY TO KEEP AFLOAT.
BARRY WAS THE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF ATCO HARDWARE AND SUPPLY AND WAS CONFIDENT IN THE STORES ABILITY TO STAY IN THE BLACK THROUGH THE SPARSE WINTER MONTHS. UNLIKE CLIFFS AND THE GROCERY, ATCO HAD LITTLE COMPETITION IN THE AREA AND WITH THE COLDEST MONTHS AHEAD OF HIM, PLUMBING AND HEATING SUPPLIES SHOULD KEEP THE STORE ON THE MAP. THE STORE HAD LOST SOME BUSINESS OVER THE PAST YEAR DUE TO THE DOWN TURNED ECONOMY AND THE SALE OF THE STORE. BARRY BLAMED IT MORE ON THE NEW OWNERS THAN THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AS PEOPLE IN THIS AREA WEREN'T COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH PETER AND ALBERT, THE NEW PROPRIETORS. RUMOR HAD IT THAT THE TWO MEN WERE MORE THAN BUSINESS PARTNERS AND AS THE RECENT REJECTION OF A MAINE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL HAD PROVEN, MAINERS DID NOT APPROVE OR SUPPORT MEN LIKE PETER AND ALBERT. IT DIDN'T BOTHER BARRY. BOTH MEN HAD BEEN FAIR AND SUPPORTIVE TO THE STAFF AT THE STORE BUT BARRY NEW FOR A FACT THAT MANY OF THE STORES PREVIOUS CUSTOMERS WERE NO LONGER CROSSING THE THRESHOLD DUE TO THE PRIVATE LIVES OF HIS BOSSES.
BARRY WAS THE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF ATCO HARDWARE AND SUPPLY AND WAS CONFIDENT IN THE STORES ABILITY TO STAY IN THE BLACK THROUGH THE SPARSE WINTER MONTHS. UNLIKE CLIFFS AND THE GROCERY, ATCO HAD LITTLE COMPETITION IN THE AREA AND WITH THE COLDEST MONTHS AHEAD OF HIM, PLUMBING AND HEATING SUPPLIES SHOULD KEEP THE STORE ON THE MAP. THE STORE HAD LOST SOME BUSINESS OVER THE PAST YEAR DUE TO THE DOWN TURNED ECONOMY AND THE SALE OF THE STORE. BARRY BLAMED IT MORE ON THE NEW OWNERS THAN THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AS PEOPLE IN THIS AREA WEREN'T COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH PETER AND ALBERT, THE NEW PROPRIETORS. RUMOR HAD IT THAT THE TWO MEN WERE MORE THAN BUSINESS PARTNERS AND AS THE RECENT REJECTION OF A MAINE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL HAD PROVEN, MAINERS DID NOT APPROVE OR SUPPORT MEN LIKE PETER AND ALBERT. IT DIDN'T BOTHER BARRY. BOTH MEN HAD BEEN FAIR AND SUPPORTIVE TO THE STAFF AT THE STORE BUT BARRY NEW FOR A FACT THAT MANY OF THE STORES PREVIOUS CUSTOMERS WERE NO LONGER CROSSING THE THRESHOLD DUE TO THE PRIVATE LIVES OF HIS BOSSES.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Dana
Dana noticed the small pie-shaped area of snow originating from the crack in his front door and radiating towards the living room as he entered his house. Champ ran to the kitchen to get a drink of water and give his dog bowl a sniff as he did every time he and Dana returned from an outing.
"I gotta remember to get some weatherstripping next time I go to the store" Dana said out loud as the dog returned "Hadn't I? Champy ole boy??" and he gave him a brisk rub on the muzzle
Dana walked over to his chair after hanging his coat and ball cap on their perspective hooks and sat down heavily. He always felt kind of lonesome when first returning home. Dana felt much better once he got involved in a TV program or a project or dozed off in his recliner. He did the latter more days than not. The house seemed much different when Maura was still living there. It even smelled different when she was around. Now the house smelled like Dana. Even in the dead of winter Dana would occasionally open up a window for 10 minutes or so just to introduce some new air to the situation and reduce the stagnant Dana smell. He doesn't remember the house ever getting stuffy when Maura was there.
Dana pointed the remote in the direction of the television. The screen illuminated with a middle-aged woman wearing too much make up and extra large hair. She was was trying to sell Dana a faux leather purse for three easy payments of $19.99. She ran her glamour length nail tipped fingers over the shiny synthetic plastic leather to further tantalize him. The old man rocked three times before gaining the momentum necessary to upright himself from the chair. Dana headed towards the kitchen and paused in the doorway, scanning the room before entering. The counter top was relatively uncluttered except for the electric percolator and the set of three canisters shaped like over-sized toadstools and glazed in earth tones. The labels of FLOUR, SUGAR and TEA were deceiving. The jars actually contained hard candy, chocolate and change. He had a bit of a sweet tooth despite the concerns of his doctor. Dana rubbed his hand over his flannel belly as he was reminded of the physician's request that he lose weight before his next check-up.
Dana opened the fridge door and peered inside. Nothing appealed to him. He would frequently have breakfast for supper but Dana was not in the mood for eggs and bacon or frozen waffles. He decided to skip supper all together and go straight to dessert. He reached into the SUGAR canister and removed a handful of mini Mr. Goodbars and Nestles Crunch bars and headed back to his recliner.
Dana had move to Albieville about twenty years ago after retiring from the Mass Telephone Company. He and his ex-wife had lived all their lives on Cape Cod, raised their daughter Mary and only decided to moved when he retired. Maine was less populated and life would be simpler there. Looking back now, moving may not have been the best idea but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. Who is to say his wife would not have left him if they stayed in Massachusetts?
"I know what you want, but you can't have any, buddy." Dana said as he slipped the first candy bar into his mouth. The woman with the hair and make up had moved on to a new product in his absence. The deal on the table was a set of multi-colored battery operated candles with crystalline holders for three easy payments of $12.99. Dana slipped another chocolate into his mouth as he reached for the remote.
"Bitch." he said under his breath as he changed the channel.
"I gotta remember to get some weatherstripping next time I go to the store" Dana said out loud as the dog returned "Hadn't I? Champy ole boy??" and he gave him a brisk rub on the muzzle
Dana walked over to his chair after hanging his coat and ball cap on their perspective hooks and sat down heavily. He always felt kind of lonesome when first returning home. Dana felt much better once he got involved in a TV program or a project or dozed off in his recliner. He did the latter more days than not. The house seemed much different when Maura was still living there. It even smelled different when she was around. Now the house smelled like Dana. Even in the dead of winter Dana would occasionally open up a window for 10 minutes or so just to introduce some new air to the situation and reduce the stagnant Dana smell. He doesn't remember the house ever getting stuffy when Maura was there.
Dana pointed the remote in the direction of the television. The screen illuminated with a middle-aged woman wearing too much make up and extra large hair. She was was trying to sell Dana a faux leather purse for three easy payments of $19.99. She ran her glamour length nail tipped fingers over the shiny synthetic plastic leather to further tantalize him. The old man rocked three times before gaining the momentum necessary to upright himself from the chair. Dana headed towards the kitchen and paused in the doorway, scanning the room before entering. The counter top was relatively uncluttered except for the electric percolator and the set of three canisters shaped like over-sized toadstools and glazed in earth tones. The labels of FLOUR, SUGAR and TEA were deceiving. The jars actually contained hard candy, chocolate and change. He had a bit of a sweet tooth despite the concerns of his doctor. Dana rubbed his hand over his flannel belly as he was reminded of the physician's request that he lose weight before his next check-up.
Dana opened the fridge door and peered inside. Nothing appealed to him. He would frequently have breakfast for supper but Dana was not in the mood for eggs and bacon or frozen waffles. He decided to skip supper all together and go straight to dessert. He reached into the SUGAR canister and removed a handful of mini Mr. Goodbars and Nestles Crunch bars and headed back to his recliner.
Dana had move to Albieville about twenty years ago after retiring from the Mass Telephone Company. He and his ex-wife had lived all their lives on Cape Cod, raised their daughter Mary and only decided to moved when he retired. Maine was less populated and life would be simpler there. Looking back now, moving may not have been the best idea but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. Who is to say his wife would not have left him if they stayed in Massachusetts?
"I know what you want, but you can't have any, buddy." Dana said as he slipped the first candy bar into his mouth. The woman with the hair and make up had moved on to a new product in his absence. The deal on the table was a set of multi-colored battery operated candles with crystalline holders for three easy payments of $12.99. Dana slipped another chocolate into his mouth as he reached for the remote.
"Bitch." he said under his breath as he changed the channel.
Friday, January 8, 2010
ALBERT
ALBERT TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS HE ENTERED HIS CLAY STUDIO. IT WAS A SMALL SPACE BUT ONE THAT HE REALLY LOVED BEING IN. THE EARTHY SMELL OF THE CLAY WORKED LIKE AROMATHERAPY FOR HIM AND THE STRESSES OF THE FARM AND STORE LEFT AS SOON AS HE ENTERED THE ROOM.
ALBERT ALWAYS ENJOYED HIS DAY OFF FROM THE HARDWARE STORE. GENERALLY, IT WAS A TUESDAY BUT, FROM TIME TO TIME, HE WOULD GET A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY OFF. BARRY AND HIS MOTHER, SUSAN, KEPT THINGS GOING WHEN ALBERT WASN'T AT THE STORE. THE MOTHER AND SON TEAM WERE MORE THAN CAPABLE AND ALBERT DIDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE STORE WHEN HE WAS ABSENT.
HIS DAYS OFF WERE SPENT DOING CHORES AROUND THE FARM THAT HE AND HIS PARTNER, PETER, OWNED. THERE WERE OVER 20 SHEEP, THE SAME NUMBER OF CHICKENS AND AN ARABIAN HORSE THAT NEEDED TENDING TO EACH MORNING AND AFTERNOON. ALBERT ENJOYED TAKING CARE OF THE FARM BUT IT STILL SEEMED LIKE WORK AND IT ATE INTO THE FEW PRECIOUS HOURS EACH WEEK THAT HE HAD TO HIMSELF. ALBERT'S FAVORITE TIME-OFF ACTIVITY WAS WORKING IN HIS POTTERY STUDIO. ON HIS DAY OFF THERE WERE USUALLY SO MANY CHORES TO BE DONE AT HOME THAT HE WAS LEFT WITH A FEW HOURS AT THE MOST TO SPEND MAKING PLAYING WITH CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING POTTERY SINCE HE WAS A TEEN AND AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE IT WAS MORE FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS THAT HE SPENT TIME IN HIS STUDIO.
HE USUALLY LISTENED TO CLASSICAL MUSIC WHILE HE MADE POTS BUT TODAY HE WAS IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING A BIT MORE INVIGORATING. IT WAS "THE TALKING HEADS" AND THEY WERE "BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE" WHEN ALBERT FIRST SAT DOWN AND CENTERED HIS FIRST PIECE OF CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING FOR ENOUGH YEARS THAT IT WAS EASY FOR ALBERT AND POTS RARELY COLLAPSED ON HIM.
PRIOR TO PETER ENTERING HIS LIFE, ALBERT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF RELATIVELY SHORT TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MEN. THIS RELATIONSHIP SEEMED MORE PERMANENT SOMEHOW. PETER WAS CONSIDERATE OF ALBERT AND APPEARED TO HAVE HIS PARTNER'S BEST INTEREST IN MIND WHEN FACED WITH DECISIONS THAT WOULD EFFECT BOTH OF THEIR LIVES. THE FIVE YEARS ALBERT AND PETER HAD BEEN TOGETHER HAD CENTERED MORE AROUND PETER'S NEEDS AND ALBERT WAS OK WITH THAT. HE REALIZED RELATIONSHIPS HAD EBB AND FLOW TO THEM AND IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE A TIME WHEN HIS NEEDS TOOK CENTER STAGE OVER PETER'S. IN SOME WAYS ALBERT LOOKED FORWARD TO THAT POSSIBILITY.
THE CYLINDER THAT HE WAS WORKING ON CONTINUED TO GROW WITH EACH EACH PULL OF HIS FINGERTIPS.ALBERT WASN'T CERTAIN YET WHAT HE WAS CREATING BUT HE THOUGHT A NICE FULL BELLIED PITCHER MIGHT BE NICE. THE TALKING HEADS WERE SINGING PSYCHO KILLER AND ALBERT COULD HEAR ONE OF THE SHEEP BAAING OUTSIDE.
NOW THAT MOST OF THE INITIAL ISSUES WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN RESOLVED, THE BIGGEST PROVIDER OF STRESS FOR BOTH GENTLEMAN WAS THE HARDWARE STORE. IT HAD BEEN A ROUGH YEAR FOR THE BUSINESS. THE STORE HAD ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF PETER'S. ALBERT'S ONLY INTEREST IN THE STORE WAS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR HIS PARTNER. HE WANTED IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR PETERS SAKE BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING ALBERT HAD INTEREST IN OTHERWISE. HARDWARE, TOOLS, NUTS AND BOLTS MEANT NOTHING TO ALBERT.
ALBERT ALWAYS ENJOYED HIS DAY OFF FROM THE HARDWARE STORE. GENERALLY, IT WAS A TUESDAY BUT, FROM TIME TO TIME, HE WOULD GET A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY OFF. BARRY AND HIS MOTHER, SUSAN, KEPT THINGS GOING WHEN ALBERT WASN'T AT THE STORE. THE MOTHER AND SON TEAM WERE MORE THAN CAPABLE AND ALBERT DIDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE STORE WHEN HE WAS ABSENT.
HIS DAYS OFF WERE SPENT DOING CHORES AROUND THE FARM THAT HE AND HIS PARTNER, PETER, OWNED. THERE WERE OVER 20 SHEEP, THE SAME NUMBER OF CHICKENS AND AN ARABIAN HORSE THAT NEEDED TENDING TO EACH MORNING AND AFTERNOON. ALBERT ENJOYED TAKING CARE OF THE FARM BUT IT STILL SEEMED LIKE WORK AND IT ATE INTO THE FEW PRECIOUS HOURS EACH WEEK THAT HE HAD TO HIMSELF. ALBERT'S FAVORITE TIME-OFF ACTIVITY WAS WORKING IN HIS POTTERY STUDIO. ON HIS DAY OFF THERE WERE USUALLY SO MANY CHORES TO BE DONE AT HOME THAT HE WAS LEFT WITH A FEW HOURS AT THE MOST TO SPEND MAKING PLAYING WITH CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING POTTERY SINCE HE WAS A TEEN AND AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE IT WAS MORE FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS THAT HE SPENT TIME IN HIS STUDIO.
THE STUDIO WAS WELL INSULATED AND A SMALL SPACE HEATER DID A FAIRLY GOOD JOB KEEPING THE CLAY AND WATER FROM FREEZING BUT THERE WAS STILL A SLIGHT CHILL TO THE AIR ON THE DAYS WHEN THE KILN WAS NOT FIRING. ALBERT TOOK OFF HIS COAT AND REPLACED IT WITH AN APRON BEFORE HE STARTED TO WEDGE THE CLAY AND SET UP HIS WHEEL FOR A SESSION OF THROWING. THE LIGHT BLUE CANVAS APRON, WITH AN IMAGE OF WINNIE-THE-POOH ON THE BIB, READ "KISS THE COOK" AND ALWAYS BROUGHT A SMILE TO THE POTTERS FACE.
HE USUALLY LISTENED TO CLASSICAL MUSIC WHILE HE MADE POTS BUT TODAY HE WAS IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING A BIT MORE INVIGORATING. IT WAS "THE TALKING HEADS" AND THEY WERE "BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE" WHEN ALBERT FIRST SAT DOWN AND CENTERED HIS FIRST PIECE OF CLAY. HE HAD BEEN THROWING FOR ENOUGH YEARS THAT IT WAS EASY FOR ALBERT AND POTS RARELY COLLAPSED ON HIM.
PRIOR TO PETER ENTERING HIS LIFE, ALBERT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF RELATIVELY SHORT TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MEN. THIS RELATIONSHIP SEEMED MORE PERMANENT SOMEHOW. PETER WAS CONSIDERATE OF ALBERT AND APPEARED TO HAVE HIS PARTNER'S BEST INTEREST IN MIND WHEN FACED WITH DECISIONS THAT WOULD EFFECT BOTH OF THEIR LIVES. THE FIVE YEARS ALBERT AND PETER HAD BEEN TOGETHER HAD CENTERED MORE AROUND PETER'S NEEDS AND ALBERT WAS OK WITH THAT. HE REALIZED RELATIONSHIPS HAD EBB AND FLOW TO THEM AND IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE A TIME WHEN HIS NEEDS TOOK CENTER STAGE OVER PETER'S. IN SOME WAYS ALBERT LOOKED FORWARD TO THAT POSSIBILITY.
THE CYLINDER THAT HE WAS WORKING ON CONTINUED TO GROW WITH EACH EACH PULL OF HIS FINGERTIPS.ALBERT WASN'T CERTAIN YET WHAT HE WAS CREATING BUT HE THOUGHT A NICE FULL BELLIED PITCHER MIGHT BE NICE. THE TALKING HEADS WERE SINGING PSYCHO KILLER AND ALBERT COULD HEAR ONE OF THE SHEEP BAAING OUTSIDE.
NOW THAT MOST OF THE INITIAL ISSUES WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN RESOLVED, THE BIGGEST PROVIDER OF STRESS FOR BOTH GENTLEMAN WAS THE HARDWARE STORE. IT HAD BEEN A ROUGH YEAR FOR THE BUSINESS. THE STORE HAD ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF PETER'S. ALBERT'S ONLY INTEREST IN THE STORE WAS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR HIS PARTNER. HE WANTED IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR PETERS SAKE BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING ALBERT HAD INTEREST IN OTHERWISE. HARDWARE, TOOLS, NUTS AND BOLTS MEANT NOTHING TO ALBERT.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Sara
Sara enjoyed waitressing at Rudy's Cafe. The pay could be better but she liked working for Freddie despite his temperment. This wasn't what she had dreamed for herself at age 50 but it would have to do for now.
It seemed like only yesterday Sara was a young horticultural student at Penn State. Her life was filled with promise and she was excited about her future. She met Lester shortly after arriving in PA. He was twice her age and was a phys ed instructor for the university. He was attentive and kind in the beginning, just the type of man Sara hoped to find. There relationship lasted close to 20 years. By the time Sara decided to move on; the relationship had turned abusive and unfullfilling to say the very least. About 9 months ago she decided to pack up a few belongings and leave the dark basement apartment and her partner behind while he was at work. Sara and her two children needed a fresh start more than they needed a partner and father. The kids didn't seem to miss their dad and never asked for him. This surprised Sara especially in regards to 9 year old Amy who was the apple of her father's eye. Her son Daniel seemed relieved and appreciated the distance between he and Lester. His Dad had been hard on Daniel. No more waiting on an unappreciative elderly father and no more watching the abuse of his mom. Daniel was 13 and was perfectly content spending his free time playing on his X-box. Anna was more outgoing and loved drawing, dancing and singing. She hoped to be a model and singer someday.
Sara looked up when she heard the clang of the bell on the front door to see Dana, a regular customer, enter the cafe. She met the older man at his usual spot, a booth intended for four which had seen better days. Sara heard the vinyl squeak and the duct tape patches scratch as Dana slide into the booth.
"Coffee?" she asked and started to pour in anticipation
"Sure.....you got any of Franks rolls today?" Dana wasn't a big sweet eater but dropped by the cafe most days for some of Frank's homemade yeast rolls and a cup of coffee.
"Sure do. Can I get you anything else?" Sara asked routinely
"No thanks, dear. Some rolls and butter would be fine." Dana craned his neck to catch a glimpse of his dog waiting patiently in the drivers seat pick up. He had promised his canine companion a roll if he behaved.
"Here you go. Enjoy!" Sara set the small basket of rolls and butter on the table and looked out the front window of the cafe. It was a gray and rainy morning and she hoped the weather would clear before Amy and Daniel got off the bus.
"How are the two little ones?" Dana seemed to read what was on the waitesses mind
"Oh, they're good, thank you. How you doing, Dana? And your pooch?"
"We are both fine. He's a good boy. I think I might drag out some of my paints today and get back into my painting." The old man seemed excited at the prospect.
"Painting? That would be nice. These Maine winters are great for hobbies....not much else to do." Sara looked up as another couple entered the cafe and sent the bell into a series of metal clangs.
"Yup."
Sarah heard the icy rain ping against the window glass and thought of her children once again. Her shift ended at 3:00. If she was lucky she could meet the bus as it dropped off Amy and Daniel.
It seemed like only yesterday Sara was a young horticultural student at Penn State. Her life was filled with promise and she was excited about her future. She met Lester shortly after arriving in PA. He was twice her age and was a phys ed instructor for the university. He was attentive and kind in the beginning, just the type of man Sara hoped to find. There relationship lasted close to 20 years. By the time Sara decided to move on; the relationship had turned abusive and unfullfilling to say the very least. About 9 months ago she decided to pack up a few belongings and leave the dark basement apartment and her partner behind while he was at work. Sara and her two children needed a fresh start more than they needed a partner and father. The kids didn't seem to miss their dad and never asked for him. This surprised Sara especially in regards to 9 year old Amy who was the apple of her father's eye. Her son Daniel seemed relieved and appreciated the distance between he and Lester. His Dad had been hard on Daniel. No more waiting on an unappreciative elderly father and no more watching the abuse of his mom. Daniel was 13 and was perfectly content spending his free time playing on his X-box. Anna was more outgoing and loved drawing, dancing and singing. She hoped to be a model and singer someday.
Sara looked up when she heard the clang of the bell on the front door to see Dana, a regular customer, enter the cafe. She met the older man at his usual spot, a booth intended for four which had seen better days. Sara heard the vinyl squeak and the duct tape patches scratch as Dana slide into the booth.
"Coffee?" she asked and started to pour in anticipation
"Sure.....you got any of Franks rolls today?" Dana wasn't a big sweet eater but dropped by the cafe most days for some of Frank's homemade yeast rolls and a cup of coffee.
"Sure do. Can I get you anything else?" Sara asked routinely
"No thanks, dear. Some rolls and butter would be fine." Dana craned his neck to catch a glimpse of his dog waiting patiently in the drivers seat pick up. He had promised his canine companion a roll if he behaved.
"Here you go. Enjoy!" Sara set the small basket of rolls and butter on the table and looked out the front window of the cafe. It was a gray and rainy morning and she hoped the weather would clear before Amy and Daniel got off the bus.
"How are the two little ones?" Dana seemed to read what was on the waitesses mind
"Oh, they're good, thank you. How you doing, Dana? And your pooch?"
"We are both fine. He's a good boy. I think I might drag out some of my paints today and get back into my painting." The old man seemed excited at the prospect.
"Painting? That would be nice. These Maine winters are great for hobbies....not much else to do." Sara looked up as another couple entered the cafe and sent the bell into a series of metal clangs.
"Yup."
Sarah heard the icy rain ping against the window glass and thought of her children once again. Her shift ended at 3:00. If she was lucky she could meet the bus as it dropped off Amy and Daniel.
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