Finding Home in Redemption

Chapter Two

Stone Cold Steve Austin... That's who I envision as Pop. <3

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I hadn't planned on returning to the diner across the street, but every morning when I tried to head straight to work, I felt like he was tugging on my heart, pulling me in the opposite direction. I couldn't start my day without making sure the man in the parking lot had a warm meal, and eventually I became friends with Sylvia, the diner waitress.

That day, back in March, started a whole new routine for me. I'd wake up and head to Bucking Bandits for coffee and to pick up breakfast for Man and Dog; the unfortunate names I came up with for them.

After Man had swatted at me that first morning, I chose not to try waking him up again. I'd cut up Dog's food and pour the gravy over the biscuits for Man; then I'd leave.

Pete, Bucking's owner, said Man would wait until I was out of sight to sit up and eat then he'd lay right back down and stay there until evening. Sylvia, who happened to be Pete's wife, said they let him use their restroom anytime they were open, but we had no idea what happened to him after seven at night when he would vanish.

Other than what Pete and Sylvia could tell me, I didn't know much about the guy. If it hadn't been for the note, I would've never known he did anything other than sleep.

One evening, after having gone to the diner a few times for dinner, Sylvia walked up to the counter where I was seated wearing the world's most infectious grin.

"What's got you so happy tonight?" I asked.

"You won't believe who came in today and you definitely won't be able to guess what he wanted!" She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

The weight gave away the fact that something was inside, so I opened it to reveal a small but beautiful turquoise stone. The note read,

"I wanted to say thank you. I saw this rock a few days ago and thought you should have it. It isn't much, but thank you."

I felt my eyes water before I could stop them and looked out of the front window to watch him for a moment. Turning back to Sylvia she smiled and shook her head.

"Go on and sit out there with him. Just bring me my dishes back when you're finished." She'd read my mind.

"Will you add a grilled chicken and fries to my bill and bring it out when it's finished?" I asked. "I want to make sure he has something tonight."

When she nodded, I picked up my plate and walked outside. Taking a seat beside Dog, I told them about my day while I ate dinner. All the mundane things I didn't realize I wanted to talk to someone about tumbled out of my mouth.

I started eating dinner beside them at least once a week, leaving a bag of food for him to eat when I left. Man never moved a muscle and Dog loved the attention.

Me? I was content.

On the days I didn't have dinner outside, I'd realize how lonely I truly was. This friendship, no matter how one-sided it was, meant a lot to me.

Throughout April, I always worried about Man's health. He fashioned some boxes and trash bags in an attempt to keep himself and Dog dry, but it didn't seem like it would be enough. I asked Sylvia to let me know if he ever appeared to be ill and one night I got a call from her, telling me he'd been sneezing. The next day, I went to The Market to buy some generic cold medicine, and I put the pill on his breakfast plate every morning for a week.