The small highway diner saw it's fair share of stories. A family of four headed for a cramped vacation out east. An old man eating alone twirling a gold band between his fingers, a matching one on his left hand. The regulars, the passing thru, the lost, the visitors. Almost everyone this town has seen has stopped by this diner. Sam's Diner. Well, it wasn't exactly her name lit in old red neon but she could pretend. And so she did. The ripped and fading sky blue vinyl booths were spotted with silver tape. Laminate wood tables uneven coloring showed their years and spills proudly behind the once shiny silver bar top and red bar stools. Paper place mats waited for their next guests with empty coffee cups and cloudy cutlery.
Sam's Diner was one bright spot in a dry brown town with specks of green. Plots of land ghosts of the farms that once flourished all over. Now most of the residents of Waterhollow are retired and living off of state pensions and social security. Young kids from the near by college keep the bars open and some of the stores alive but this town feels like a boat with a small leak. Taking on water and not a life raft in sight.
Today was no different than any other day. Samantha wiped down the counters with the old rag wafting the smell of bleach in the air. She collected the clean table settings to set aside for service another day. Every table wiped, every booth wiped down, every salt and pepper shaker refilled and replaced. Everything in its place and floor swept. Everything, except for the old man's booth. He was always last to go. Still fingering the gold band between his fingers his chest raised high before falling, his eyes wet and distant. Slowly and carefully he stood to leave after dropping a few bills on the table for his coffee. The bells on the door sent him on his way and he returned their favor with a halfhearted raised hand. Heading in the direction of wherever it is he calls home he disappeared alone.
Peering through the order window Samantha shouted to whomever was still left prepping for tomorrow's service. "Adios fellas, I'm heading out."
"MaƱana!" A voice responded from out of site.
Samantha had lived in Waterhollow most if her life. Most of her memories. She had seen this town at the end of it's prime and decay into the arid brown nothing it is today all the while holding out hope she would wake up to the town she adopted as home so long ago. Like yesterday and everyday before Sam turned her car away from the direction of home and headed for the center of town.
The largest, and newest building in town was home to Waterhollow's oldest residents and those unable to care for themselves. Her grandma moved in after the death of her husband, Sam's grandpapa, unwilling to stay in the farm he dreamed of without him there. It was too much for one person to manage she would say. Leaving the plot of land to Sam to take care of or sell as she saw fit was her way of letting go without total responsibility for it's loss. A new face greeted her at the check in desk.
"Oh. You're new. I'm Samantha Field, I'm here to see Veronica Field. I'm here everyday about this time."
"Nice to meet you Samantha. Veronica is in the great room."
"Thanks." Sam knew the way. And knew that's where she'd find her. It's the same place she always was. Gossiping with her girls.
"Speak of the devil, here she is now. Hello dear."
Sam leaned down and planted a soft kiss on the delicate and papery skin of her grandma's wrinkled cheek. "Hello ladies. What do we have going on this evening?"
"Well, you missed all of the juicy stuff but I would be happy to recap it for you."
"Oh no thank you Gram. How are you ladies?" Sam pulled up an empty seat and squeezed in between her gram and one of her friends.
"Oh we are just fine Samantha dear, how was work?"
"Oh you know, same as it always is."
"Samantha your grandmama won't ask you but it don't bother me none. We are having a bingo night coming up in a few days and our usual caller is unavailable. Do you think you could step in?"
"I would love to Miss Ellie Mae. Now gram let's get you to your room hmmm?"
"I suppose. Goodnight ladies. I will see you all in the morning."
"G'night Miss Veronica." The group responded in unison.
Back in the semi privacy of her room Veronica quizzed her grand-daughter. "Honey, I know I'm old and losing my mind from time to time but weren't you dating that handsome fella? I'm sure he doesn't want to spend his evening watching us silver hairs play bingo."
Samantha smiled, turning down her grandmas bed for her. "It will be fine Gram, don't you worry your pretty mind."
"Have you been by the farm lately? I sure do miss the sunsets on that porch."
Sam cringed inside. She avoided that place. The pain of that empty plot of land and farmhouse were more reality than she needed. "Not since the last time Gram. C'mon, let me help you into bed." Just as she had done every night before and as she will do every night to come, Samantha helped get her grandma into her night gown and tucked into bed. "I'm sorry I didn't get here early enough to chat. Hopefully tomorrow."
"It's okay Samantha dear. I'm fine." She smiled. "I'll love you forever."
Samantha grinned. "I'll like you for always."
Together they continued, "as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."
Samantha hunched over from her spot on the side of her grandmothers bed and embraced her. "I love you grandma. I will see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight love. Catch the sunset on the front porch for me tonight. It looks like it's a beauty."
"Just like you." Samantha left and waved to the new desk attendant on her way out. These long summer days were offering her enough daylight to make it for a sunset on the old porch. Perhaps she would stay true to her word and visit the old place tonight.
Pulling up the old dirt drive Sam was filled with nostalgia as the two story faded grey wood home came into view. Empty windows matched the overgrown grass and weeds. The neglected brick chimney chipped away and crumbled. Hesitating, Sam slowly walked up the front steps and over to the porch swing. Ghosts of her past replayed fond memories in front of her. Sitting on this very swing listening to her Papa's stories. Watching her Gram knit. Making sun tea on the ledge. And the sunsets. Sam sat down pushing the ghosts out of her mind and looked out into the horizon.
The setting sun lit the air on fire. Reds and oranges painted the sky mixing with the midnight blue creeping behind. A cool summer breeze floated through her hair and raised the skin on her arms. From here you could see forever and smell the fresh land. The wild flowers, old crops, new crops from neighboring farms, hay, dust and sunshine mixed together into a lovely perfume of summer. This was the only place she felt her grandfather. Just like her grandma. Gravestones marked his physical resting spot but here, on this porch, if the breeze fell just right, this is where his spirit was. With the fire sky smoking to black it was time for Sam to make it back home for the night. She had a day to repeat tomorrow, just like the one previous and all of the other day befores.
