Behind the counter of a well known restaurant called Rose's Diner, on the East Side of Chicago, there are two women behind the counter. One is an average looking, brunette. She's the kind of woman who is everybody's friend. Her name is Jean Marie Hardin. The other woman is a real pretty one, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She has the kind of eyes, that you can see right through. And behind them is the dark side of fear.
She really looked out of place here in this quaint diner. She looked like she belonged somewhere else. Somewhere else in a kind of classy place, and certainly did not look like the waitress type. Her name is Karolina Myers, and she serves a good cup of coffee. She also offers good conversation and likes good wholesome jokes.
One thing that really seemed to brighten her day was, two kids who came in about the same time every day. One was Ida Marie, Jean Marie's daughter and her friend, Tony. They would take a seat and order sodas. Karolina would tousle their hair when Tony would ask every day when she would go out with him. She would only say "Someday soon Sweetie."
But this day they didn't seem to do their job in lightening up her day. She seemed sad, and downhearted, because her good friend and boyfriend Michael had left for California yesterday. He left for a better job when she said she couldn't commit to him. So they said their good-byes and parted ways. She admitted to herself she couldn't commit to him, or anyone for that matter. But she was still lonely for companionship.
But there was lots more than she was willing to tell. But she had told Jean Marie she was thinking of moving because she was getting annoying phone calls. The calls came all hours of the n off you won't see any shadows."
"So I guess you live in the dark?"
"Don't be silly. It's just one of her crazy mixed up sayings. Like never wear your shoes on the wrong feet. You'll never know if you're coming or going." That brought a smile or two to them.
Things were slow and she was sitting at a table mindlessly stirring a cup of coffee. And looking out into the dreary streets. She thought it is going to snow soon, she could feel it in her bones. The leaves had long ago fell, and the wind had an icy chill in it. But she loved it, and loved being outside, no matter how cold it was.
She remembered back to when she first came to Chicago. It had been five months ago, even then the wind had a chill to it, some say it always does. She found this restaurant the day she had arrived, but she hadn't gone inside. Instead she remembered looking through the same window she now looked out of, and wished for some final peace.
It wasn't until the next morning when she left her new apartment hungry, did she come inside. She remembered then, it was almost like going home. Red checkered tablecloths draped every table, and candles were there whether lit or not. As scared as she was they had made her feel like she belonged in their group they called their Family.
Charles the cook had served her up a plate of his famous scrambled eggs, bacon, and buttermilk biscuits and gravy. He said she looked like she could use a hearty meal. Actually she had ate every bite and was thankful for a meal at last it had been awhile since she last ate. She felt like she could relax enough to eat something and enjoyed the food.
Jean Marie who had taken to her right away was rambling on about how they needed help, especially during lunch hours. It had been her persuasion that encouraged her to ask for a job. Charles was more than eager to hire her without knowing if she had experience or not. She remembered he said she looked like she needed a break. Even Mr. Wells the kind old man she had grown to know and respect, had been there that day. He told her he was a loner too, since his wife Frances passed away a short time ago.
She sipped her coffee, hoping she could finally make this her home. Even though the phone calls were disturbing her, she felt secure for a change. Secure in knowing she was far from where she had come from, and had a totally new look. She felt confident know one would find her in a low class place like this. At least she sure hoped not. She was tired of running from town to town, looking back behind her everywhere she went. But deep down she knew she would always be looking beyond and behind herself. But at least for now she was free and hoped to stay that way.
