The Long, Winding Road

2.

Thursday, October 20th
10:30 PM

The tiny diner lays huddled despondent among the busy streets of the city, washed over under the overcast sky. The puffed, darkened clouds roll in with rain-filled bellies, promising the kind of rainstorm that comes from living near the water. Specks of rain twinkle down the glass in the spotlight of the street lamps. Shades of coloured umbrellas hit the air, and puddles are splashed by the scattering of people outside on the crowded streets; some jogging to avoid the downpour, some unfazed. The streets are busting alive from the cars rushing by, their headlights swarming through the dense fog.

The bells on the door sound their jingle, causing the music waves of my earbuds to be interrupted. With a chilled breeze walks in an older man, a thick and bushy moustache sits upon his upper lip, and an older woman clutched to his arm. Water pools down their silk raincoats as they greet a table swarmed with people seated, chatting and laughing without care, as if they didn't age for a minute.

My lips crawl to a smile as my eyes soak in the warm aroma of the room. With the outside feeling gloomy, I sip away at the tall cup of Hot Chocolate that fires its way down my throat, steaming up my insides.

From the corner of my eye, I catch Danny, staring at me blankly. In his hands are a small writing pad and a mechanical pencil. I flick my eyes over to him and he tips the cowboy hat on his head with a goofy smile plastered on his face.

The music fades from my ear as I remove the right earbud, the clatter of the room intensifying. "Sheesh Danny, don't just stand there and skulk. What'd you say?"

The pencil twirls around his fingers as he lets out a little chuckle, "Just the regular for ya, sweetheart?" He asks in his Texan accent. Cracks me up every single time.

Danny is considered the wisecracker around these parts, to me anyhow. No matter how hard you try, nothing is stopping this guy, and I think that's why we get along so well. Danny is a real tough guy: hair slicked and sharp-dressed, almost as if he's stuck in an 80s rom-com. I've never been one to be fooled by his act, he's got such a big heart. Other than his lady, Linda, he doesn't want to admit he's sort of a lone body. But, there's nothing wrong with a limited company from time to time. Something I've come to learn.

"You bet. Oh and," I swig down the remaining liquid and hold up the empty glass, "another round of Hot Chocolates, stat."

"Aye aye, little lady." Danny shoves the pad and pencil in his pocket and throws the cleaning rag over his shoulder. "I'll even slip a few extra fries in there for ya," he whispers closer to my ear, "won't tell the boss lady, it'll be our little secret." He grabs the glass and moonwalks off with a wink.

What a dork. I simply laugh to myself and continue to sit in contentment.

The mellow, yellow diner walls of Lin's Diner I've claimed as my home away from home. It sometimes even feels more like home than my real home. Linda was kind enough to let me use this as the prime location for blowing off steam. Which, not going to lie, is most times a cover-up for goofing off with Danny. It just stuck with me. And simply because no one cares who you are here. A criminal? Check, but keep it on the DL. An alcoholic? Always at least three. Is there a girl pathetic enough to catch up on her homework while her friends make the most of the night? Maybe, who knows.

From being grouped as an anomaly, not necessarily a hermit, more what is considered an outsider, it's an unbeatable feeling to find people whose first impressions weren't morally based around status, but that of gaining true friends. The kind of friends that just immediately become your family, because being a family simply has nothing to do with DNA. Also something I've come to learn.