Better Than A Broad

01

   The diner was desolate, aside from the staff and Dan. It was a waitress in her mid-40s with stringy hair and bright red lipstick named Pam. She was with a cook in his early 60s named Leonard. It made Dan feel like he just stepped into a movie scene. It was only missing a jukebox. Oh America, how odd you can be.

"What would you like, hun?" Pam asked while blowing a bubble gum bubble.

"A top," Dan muttered.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that," Pam replied.

"Sorry... U-uh... a black coffee, please."

"Coming right up."

He heard her red heels click on the linoleum floors. Click. Click. Click. Dan drowned out every noise. He could only focus on the time. 10:03. Phil got off three minutes ago. It was too early to worry yet. Dan just sat and thought. Click. Click. Click. Thud. Plop. Pam came back with Dan's coffee. 10:10. Was Dan allowed to worry yet? Maybe Phil forgot about him. Maybe he only said to meet up to get Dan out of his hair. Maybe Phil found Dan anno- jingle. The bells over the door go off to signify that another costumer has come in.

There he was. Perfection. He was dressed in colorful galaxy shirt, black jeans, and red and blue tennis shoes. God, he looked amazing. It was so different form his all-black work uniform. A perfect juxtaposition.

"Hey, Pam." They seemed aquatinted.

"Oh, hey, honey. Was it a crazy night at work today?"

"No, it was slower than usual! How, odd for a Friday night." His words were exaggerated. All the coldness from earlier disappeared. It was as if leaving work gave him his youth back. It was a completely different Phil. And, in all honesty, Dan found it attractive.

Phil swiveled his head with a curious look on his face then went to one of excitement as soon as he found what he was looking for. "Hey!" He made a beeline for Dan's booth.

"Hey, Phil," Dan sounded like he was daydreaming. But, in fact, he was so mesmerized by Phil. He didn't care. Phil seemed worth honest emotions right now.

"Sorry, I didn't catch your name back at the bar," Phil said apologetically.

"Oh, it's Dan."

"Why hello Dan Dan the Can Man," Phil chanted in a youthful innocence. Dan actually found it quite cute. He always had a thing for pet names. In all honesty, he thought of a couple for Phil himself.

Dan just chuckled slightly. Phil checked his phone for messages. An awkward silence ensued.

"Oh my god, this is like the 50th pidgey in a row. I can't live off of tiny virtual birds. I gotta have other virtual animals." Phil was enthusiastic, Dan, he was more confused than anything. Phil looked at him and cracked a smile. "Do you play pokemon go?"

A wave of realization hit Dan. "No, I think I would feel awkward, like an adult clinging onto the past. I'm too old for that sort of thing."

Phil didn't skip a beat. "What?! How?! You are never too old for things!"

"I wish I can think the same. It just doesn't feel right to me."

"Well, you just haven't found the right childish activity." Phil's persistence was admirable. To Dan, it seems like too many people give up as soon as they hit a rough patch. That's why Dan is their boss. "Hey, do you wanna go on a walk?"

"A walk?" this proposal boggled Dan, "Phil, its 10:30 at night!"

"Well, I gotta' catch 'em all."

"Where to?" Dan gave in quickly. Mainly because he wanted to see Phil indulging in an activity he enjoys.

"My house, my dog needs to go out. You can come in if you want."