No U Turn

2

 "You seein' Cash, tonight," Rosie asked Lori as she turned the key in the front door of the cafe.

"Not tonight," Lori said. "He's working a double. Says he needs the overtime."

"Well," said Rosie, "I guess you and me get to go home and work on our beauty sleep. Not that you need to. But me on the other hand . . ."

Lori smiled.

"See you tomorrow," Rosie said, laughing and shaking her head and handing Lori the keys. "Oh, and don't let Floyd skip out without paying. You hear? I'll be in about nine."

"Sure," said Lori. "I'll stand over him with a bat and threaten to take him out at the knees if he so much as glances at the door."

"You do that, kid. And thanks," said Rosie, thinking she was lucky to have hired help she could trust.

Not that she had any grand illusions that Lori still be working at the cafe three months from now. Young folks like her did not grow roots here. Too small. Too quiet. Too boring.

But at least she'd enjoy her for as long as she stayed.

As she looked down the deserted street, Rosie could not help but shiver.

How dark and foreboding.

"Agh," she told herself, shaking off the dust of old memories.