It's 4:30 in the morning. I am in my car, heading east, due east. This road is very familiar. I-90 is a nice ride in April, not that I can see much with the darkness and all. I'm not sure what state I am in, except of course, for the state of confusion. Why, you ask? What am I confused about? I had a pretty good job, working toward getting a fantastic man elected President, when I up and left to give a second chance to my cheating ex-boyfriend. Well, he is ONCE AGAIN AND FOREVER MORE my EX-boyfriend. Of that, I am not confused. My confusion is why on earth I thought he would have changed. Why did I leave the best opportunity of my life, the people I have grown to care for as a family and a boss that is…um…well… (yeah, nowhere to go with that right now).
Ok, now I know where I am. 'Welcome to Pennsylvania' the sign says. Eight and ½ hours I have been driving. This is just about the halfway point for me. Wait, that means another 8 + hours to go. UGH! I have to stop driving for a while. A diner! YES! Coffee, some food, a little rest from driving, just what the doctor ordered. Doctor? No, no, no. No thoughts about doctors! My ankle starts to throb again.
At almost 5 in the morning, the diner does have some customers. Mostly locals, I would guess. Blue collar workers getting ready to start their day. I sit in a booth that looks like it has seen better days. I stretch out to put my sore ankle up on the opposite bench of the booth. "Doris", according to her nametag, comes over to me with a cup in one hand, a pot of coffee in the other and a menu tucked under her arm. She has a warm smile and reminds me of Aunt Bea.
"Coffee?"
Yes, please. Lots of it", I say to her with a warm smile in return. Laughing slightly, she places the cup in front of me and pours. Leaving the menu on the table, she turns to leave so that I may read it and decide.
Hmmm…am I really all that hungry? Maybe just some toast.
Still carrying the pot of coffee, Doris returns. "Have you decided, my dear?"
"I think I'll just have some toast with jelly. Strawberry, if you have it?"
"Not a problem." She is about to walk away when I stop her.
"Doris?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Could you please point my in the direction of the…um…"
Smiling, she knows exactly what I was going to ask. "Make a right at the end of the counter. Second door on the left."
"Thanks."
As Doris goes to place my toast order, I make my way, slowly, to the ladies room. There is a pay phone there as well. When I exit the bathroom, I decide to try and call CJ.
"Operator."
Yes, I would like to place a collect call to 202-555-6472, please."
"And your name?"
"Donna Moss."
"One moment, please."
Silence. OK, now I hear it ringing.
"Hallow?" I think CJ was still asleep.
"Collect call from Donna Moss. Do you accept the charges?"
"What?" Now I know she was.
"Collect call from Donna Moss. Do you accept the charges?"
"Donna? Where are you?"
"Ma'am, do you accept the charges?"
"Yes. Yes, operator. Donna? Are you there?"
"Hi CJ. I'm right here."
"Please elaborate. Where is 'here'?"
Oh, yea. I'm not in New Hampshire yet. "I'm in a little town in Pennsylvania."
"Pennsylvania? I thought you headed home to Madison?"
"Yea, well… that didn't quite work out. I'm heading back to Nashua."
"YOU ARE!!! ALLEUIA!!!"
"I guess that means it's a good thing that I'm coming back?"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Of course it is. Does Josh know?"
"No, CJ. You are the only one I have called. Please don't say anything. OK?"
"But, Donna…"
"No, CJ. Please?" I don't know what Josh's reaction to my return is going to be, but I would like the chance to see his face for myself. Even though I had only worked for him for a couple of months, I learned quickly how to read his facial expressions. His face will tell me his true feelings about my coming back.
"When do you think you'll get here?" Even though CJ has not confirmed that she will not say anything to Josh, I know she won't.
"Well, I figure I have about another 8 ½ to 9 hours of driving left. I got on the road last night around 8pm. I drove all night and am now in a diner in a small town in PA getting something to eat and some much-needed coffee. If I get right back on the road after my little break, I should maybe make it there around 1 or 2 this afternoon."
"You drove ALL NIGHT?" OK, CJ's mother hen is showing. "Donna, I miss you terribly and we need you here desperately, but stop somewhere and get a few hours of sleep. We need you here in one piece." Desperately? Why do they need me there desperately?
"What's going on, CJ? Why do you need me back so much?"
"Donna, where exactly are you?"
"Girard's Diner."
"And where, pray tell, is Girard's Diner?"
Now, that is a good question. I spot Doris at a nearby table. Catching her eye, I wave her over to me. "Doris, exactly where am I?"
"Who's Doris?"
"The waitress", I tell CJ over the phone. "Hold on a sec, CJ."
"Dear, you are in Girard, PA."
"Did you get that, CJ?"
"Yes, but what's the zip code?"
"What is the zip code for Girard?"
Doris has a really quizzical look on her face but responds, "16417".
"Thanks, Doris. Did you get that, too?"
"Yea, hang on Donna."
"Dear, your toast is on your table."
"Thank you very much, Doris. I'll be right back for it."
"CJ? What are you doing?" I hear her clicking on her laptop.
"Hold on, Donna." She must have covered the phone because all I can hear is that she is talking to someone but it is completely muffled. "OK. Thank you."
"CJ?"
"Donna, there is a Best Western in McKean. It's on Sterrettania Rd. It is about 6 miles from where you are right now. You have a reservation. Go and get some sleep. The room is all paid for. And I won't take no for an answer. Like, I said, we NEED you back in one piece."
"CJ, what aren't you telling me? Why do you need me back so badly?" I hear her sigh into the phone. She doesn't seem to want to answer. "CJ?"
"Listen, we are just all really stressed. Some more than others. Having you back here will be the best medicine for all concerned." There is a lot of noise in the background. "Listen, Donna, I have to get back. Just get some sleep and give me another call when you are back on the road."
"OK. I'll call you in a few hours then."
She disconnects the call but not before I hear some loud screaming over the phone. Now I am worried about what I am heading back to.
I go back to my table and grab a piece of toast. Doris comes over and pours some more coffee in my cup. "This stuff is better when it's hot." She smiles before turning and walking away.
"Thanks."
I finish my toast and coffee, take some money out of my wallet for the bill and tip, leave it on the table and hobble out the door. Getting into my car, I look around to find I-90 again. I'm kind of glad CJ is forcing me to get some sleep. My eyes are really heavy and my ankle can really use to be up for a while. OK, here is the exit for Sterrettania Rd. I can see the Best Western up ahead on the right.