There were two different televisions on in the joint. One behind the long old fashioned counter with stools and the other in the opposite corner of the restaurant. Both of them were on, one had Good Morning America on, the other was the local news.
“Today there were reports of one Alaskan Malamute that went missing from the yard. Two other homes were both broken the last two nights, exotic pets were stolen in the Parkway-South Sacramento section of town. There were no traces of the intruders or forced entry.” With that, the anchor stopped, and turned on the camera to move to another story. “This is a reminder to all residence of Sacramento and the surrounding area. If you experience or witness anything suspicious or see someone you don’t recognize in your neighborhood after hours, and acting strangely, contact the authorities through 911 or police non-emergency if you do not feel threatened.” There seemed to be a back story to go with that, it may have aired the prior day, but there was an implied connection between the animal story and the reminder.
Sally looked as if she took over her mother’s position at the diner. Her uniform was pink to match the retro feel of the diner. It was as if this was the greasy spoon that time forgot. She had leaned toward the pick up window, her rump giving the truckers a bit of a gaze. Anything was good for tips, and she wasn’t ashamed to use it against the likes of men. But, her leaning wasn’t entirely in vain. Directly above the opening between the counter and the kitchen was a picture set as a memorial, Mel was written on it. A sweet old man who looked a little like the cook on the other side, possibly the son of the diner’s namesake.
“Jack.” Whispered this woman with big hair in sensible work shoes and a uniformed dress motioning the cook to come to the window. “Jack! Hey, ya hear that? Three of them in the radius of your block.” She shook her head, adjusted her dress along with the name tag that said 'Sally' and grabbed some coffee skirting her way to the table where a bunch gathered. She paused a moment where a vagabond sat, reaching down and pulling a cookie from the wrapped tray behind the counter and 'faux' sneaking it between his arms on where he leaned.
“Hello ya’ll. Have a seat.” Nodding to the free tables and large booth in the back corner. All the tables were set with upside-down mugs, glasses, place settings and menus. “Who all wants coffee?!” Way too chipper for anyone’s own good, but to the wise, it was a façade to get he through another day. Something in her eyes said she was a spitfire though. “Or something else to drink? The joe is fresh and strong! Oh anddddd.... for the faint of heart, we have decaf if you want.”
Waitress