Jukebox ✬ Jasper Hale

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     After a week of canned food and protein bars, we decided an hour's drive and back would be worth it for some real dinner from the diner we stopped at before in Forks. It was a nice night to drive out; the stars were shining brightly against the dark night, something we rarely saw in the city. We tried to bear with the dry, tasteless granola, but our willpower crumbled with each bite. Sure, we could have brought along actual food, but the hassle wasn't worth it. 

     Down the road we went, eager to eat something that wasn't drenched in some kind of vague liquid. Man, even a veggie plate sounded better than "Almond Cashew + Flax." We scrambled to the corner seat we occupied last time, enjoying the warmth and people inside. The diner was packed full again, all of the bar stools and tables taken. It seemed as if the patrons never left this cozy little spot, always talking and eating, having a good time. 

     I spotted Cora behind the counter, preparing a couple of milkshakes. She easily worked her way through the tables to us, and greeted us with a bright smile. 

     "Well, well, well. Look who's back in town!" She exclaimed as friendly as ever. 

     "Comfort food just doesn't beat granola bars," Mom replied, a grin spreading on her face from the contagious joy in the diner. 

     "Tonight's your lucky night then! We have a special for berry cobbler every Thursday." 

     "That sounds delightful. We'll order some later." Mom glanced at me, and I shrugged. I wasn't a big fan, but it seemed all right compared to this week's eating habits. Cora turned to the door as the bell jingled when it opened. She smiled again and welcomed this new customer. 

     "Ladies," she spoke as she focused her attention back on us,"The diner is unfortunately full. You mind if this gentleman joins you this evening?" A mischievous upturn of her lips made me think this was the man she was talking about introducing to Mom. 

     "Hi, I'm Charlie Swan." He awkwardly shook our hands and sat across from us. 

     "I'm Alex Thompson, and this is my daughter, Delilah." A brief round of introductions left us silent and hesitant to talk with each other. 

     "Do you live in Forks?" Mom opened with a lame icebreaker, and the uncomfortable mood increased. 

     "Yes, I do. I love this town; can't bear to leave it," Charlie replied before asking,"Have you two recently moved here?"    

      "Oh, no. We drove up from Olympia for a little nearby camping." 

     Charlie nodded, thinking, and said, "Well, I hope you ladies have a nice time around here. It's a pretty safe area, and it's a good little town." We ate our dinner in broken conversation, one question, one answer here and there. Before dessert, I took a dime and headed to the jukebox, desperately trying to escape the weird atmosphere. 

     To my delight, a new record was in the second slot, and hoping it was something upbeat like 'Jailhouse Rock,' I played it first. Frank Sinatra's 'Fly Me to the Moon' somehow played louder than the voices in the restaurant. The jazz managed to lighten the mood between Mom and Charlie. 

     Offering his hand, Charlie invited her to dance, and she gladly took it, getting spun around once. The pair took off to the back, near the jukebox, and I soon lost them among the throng of other dancing people. 

     They came back 10 minutes after the second track ended, all smiles and happiness. It seemed as if the ice between them broke, and they seemed more intimate. Was that a little bit of adoration in Mom's eyes? The distaste I was dreading didn't appear, and I couldn't help but to be pleased for them. I guessed a dance or two was all it took to make them comfortable with each other. 

     "Delilah, did I ever tell you Charlie was a wonderful man?" Mom sighed, breathless. I cringed a bit at their sudden closeness, but replied nonetheless. 

     "No? I mean, sure, if you say so." 

     "He's amazing! I haven't met a man like him in years!" She sat in her seat with a dreamy look on her face. 

     "Mom," I squirmed uncomfortably,"He's sitting with us right now. Couldn't you wait until we get back to our tent to gush about him?" 

     She blushed, weirdly enough, and dug into her cobbler, something I was sure she'd consider a new favorite because Charlie ordered it too. I looked sideways out the window before watching them interlace their fingers, like the 7th graders at my school. I wondered how they had become so infatuated with each other in such a short span of time. 

     Cora dropped by our table long enough to say,"I told you you'd like him," as I was still pleasantly shocked. Mom was a nurse who loved everything glamorous and fancy, and Charlie, as I'd come to know, was a practical police sheriff who wore plaid shirts and fished. She was a wild horse, and he was a safe kind of adventure. They weren't complete opposites, but there were more differences than similarities. The two of them seemed unlikely and incompatible with one another, like trying to play tennis with a golf club. 

     Still, they had already exchanged phone numbers, and set up a real first date, already eager to meet again. It was like first love all over again, and they were beginning to turn into hopeless romantics. 

     Charlie paid for the meal, and bid us, well Mom, a reluctant goodbye. On the drive back to the campgrounds, all Mom talked about was about him. 

     "You know, Charlie has a daughter who's a year older than you. Bella, I think, was her name. She's starting high school soon." 

      "And? Do you want me to meet her?" Our eyes met in the mirror and I knew the answer right when I questioned her. 

     "Well...Maybe. I don't know how things will work out between Charlie and I, but if everything turns out all right..." Mom trailed off, blankly making turns and looking out for wildlife.

     "You're not already thinking of marrying him already, are you?" 

     "No, don't be silly. We haven't even gone out on a proper date yet. It's just...I haven't felt this happy with someone in a really long time, and I want a real relationship with him, not a month long fling with an online dating site match. Your father would understand. After all, he is dating that executive, Victoria, so he knows what it's like to move on. I hope you're not upset with this." 

     "I'm not, Mom. Trust me. I'm worried that if you do end up falling in love with him, we'll move here sooner, and I don't want that. I don't want to have to go through this torturous social process again," I confessed.

     "Sweetie, we won't until your junior year, if you still want that jukebox. Let's just give this a try okay?" 

     "Hm."