The Promise

Chapter 9: The Diner

It is 5:45 in the morning. I woke up in an unfamiliar bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, with unfamiliar light coming in through the window. For a while I just sat, trying to figure out what event had unfolded that I was now sitting here in a dirty room inside a cheap motel. In mere seconds the past events unfolded behind my eyes and I fel tears roll down my cheeks. Wiping then away quickly, I continued to change and pack. On my aay out I bought a map, something I thought might be useful in the future. The map was for Montana, and according to it I was just 5 miles west of a small town called Paradise. I rolled the name around in my head, deciding that Paradise would be a good place for a new start.

It only took me 10 minutes to reaxh it, but without the map I probably would have passed right by it. The town consisted of a couple old houses, a small mom and pop store, and a gas station with a small diner called, coincidentally, Parasise Diner. I turned into the diner, hunger clawing at my stomach. As I was about to enter, something caught my eye. It was a red sign with white letters that said "HELP WANTED". Smiling, I enter and sit down on a stool at the counter. A plump woman with kind grey eyes asks me what I want. With a smile, I reply, "Actually, I saw the help wanted sign on the window and I would like to apply." She looks me up a d dosn, then, handing me a towel says "You're hired. My name is Margret, but call me Margie. And you are?"

"Ravyn." I reply, suprised at the instant employment. Margie nodds, then points to a table. "Start by bussing that." She says, and I nodd, heading over to the table, satisfied and filled with hope of a new life.

Margie and I became very close in only a few weeks. After she learned I had no placeto go, she insisted I stay with her. As a thanks, I worked as hard as possible and gave her half of all my tips as a type of rent. As all small towns go, the news of my arrival spread like wildfire. It wasn't long before all 130 citizens flocked to the small diner to see the new girl. During that time I begged Sarge, the cook, if I could help in the kitchen, but he insisted that I must go out and meet the locals. It was scary at first, but every one was very nice. Finally I hoped that I could have a nice new life here. In the weeks to come, I was to find out how wrong I was.