Disclaimer: Garfield and all related characters are the intellectual property of Paws Inc. and Paramount Global/Nickelodeon at the time this story was written.
Chapter 4 - Diner Blues
Jon lets out his five-hundredth sigh in a row as he and Garfield wait for their food to be served in a diner not too far from home.
"Here's your coffee, Jon." The waitress said, handing him his warm cup of joe.
"Thanks, Irma." Jon said, revealing her name.
"Hey, what's the matter, hon?" Irma asks, concerned.
"*SIGH* This may come as a surprise to you, Irma, but I'm just not very good at getting a date, or a life for that matter." Jon admits.
"And you're not very good at getting groceries either." Garfield said, chugging down Jon's coffee.
"Oh, come now hon. Why, I've never had a date in my whole life." Irma said, attempting to cheer him up. "Though, it's probably because no one asked to go out with me."
"I can see why." Garfield said, placing the empty coffee cup back on the table.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Irma." Jon said, feeling rather bad for her.
"Oh, don't you fret about me." Irma assures him. "I have the best life a person like me could ever have."
"A low-paying job as a waitress at a diner with barely any customers in it. Such a great life you have." Garfield said sarcastically.
"Well, at least you have a happy life." Jon said, placing his head down on the table.
"Your food should be ready shortly, hon." The waitress gives him a sympathetic look before retreating into the kitchen.
"So, while you continue to wallow in self-pity about not having a life, I'm gonna go take a piss." Garfield hops out of his seat and heads to the restroom to do his business, regardless if they have a litter box in there or not, leaving Jon alone to ponder his own thoughts.
For what seemed like hours, save for a few people chatting with each other, the diner remains dead silent.
*DING*
"Be right with ya, hon!" Irma shouts from the kitchen as another customer enters the diner, taking a seat right next to the depressed cartoonist.
"Jon?"
Raising his head from the table, Jon turns his attention to the person who just spoke his name and is surprised to see a familiar face that he hadn't seen in quite awhile.
"Liz? What are you doing here?" Jon asks.
"Getting food, what else?" Liz replies, taking off her brown coat.
"Oh, right." Jon said, embarrassed that he didn't remember where they were. "So…uhh…how's your life been?"
"Eh, business as usual." Liz replies. "I just finished an emergency appointment for someone's cat. Poor thing had her owner's cell phone stuck deep in her nose. How's life been for you?"
"Oh…uhhhhh…My life's been good." Jon lies. "Y'know, just raising my pets and all."
"Uh huh. Speaking of which, how's Garfield and that whale-sized belly of his?" The veterinarian asks.
"You know Garfield, he won't eat a salad unless I give him a whole french bread to put on top of it as a crouton." The cartoonist replies bluntly.
"I see. Well, is he at least mildly exercising like I suggested?"
"Uhhh…yeah. Of course he has." Jon grins nervously, having completely forgotten that he was supposed to make his cat exercise ever since they suggested having him do that instead of going on a diet*. (*Garfield Goes on a Diet on Thanksgiving!*)
"Right." The veterinarian said bluntly, knowing full-well that he hasn't.
Just then, Irma heads out of the kitchen, letting out a loud gasp upon seeing the veterinarian sitting at the table.
"Liz!? Is that you!?" Irma asks.
"Long time no see, Irma." Liz smiles.
"My goodness gratuitous, it really is you!" Irma shouts with glee. "How ya been, girl!?"
"Eh, I'm doing alright. Busy as always." Liz replies.
"Wait a minute, you two know each other?" Jon asks.
"Yeah, I used to work here before I got my veterinary degree." Liz reveals.
"Huh, I guess it really is a small world." The cartoonist said to the reader.
"Pee-yew!" Garfield exits through the bathroom door, covering his nose. "I swear, the people they let in that bathroom."
Heading back to his seat, the cat was almost caught completely off-guard by the presence of his veterinarian sitting right next to his owner.
"What's she doing here!?" Garfield shouts.
"Oh, hey Garfield. Come say hi to Liz." Jon insists.
"Hello, Garfield." Liz greets. "How's my biggest patient doing this evening?"
"I ain't goin on another diet if that's what you're thinking, and I ain't exercising neither!" Garfield said sternly, refusing to look at her as he folds his arms and turns his back.
"Garfield, be nice to her!" Jon scolds his cat.
"It's okay, Jon." Liz said. "I get that kind of reaction from my patients all the time."
"Same here, hon." Irma adds, wiping the table with a cloth.
"Oh, I see." Jon said. Noticing the sad look on the veterinarian's face, he thinks of an idea to help her feel better, not wanting her to become as depressed as he is. "So…uhh…I was wondering…"
"What is it, Jon?" Liz asks.
"Well…I-I was thinking…er…that we…uhhh…maybe we can see a movie together. Would you like to…uhhh…do that?" The cartoonist asks nervously, twirling his fingers.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You're seriously not asking her out on a date, are you?" Garfield asks, turning to face his owner.
"Sure, I got nothin better to do tonight." Liz replies.
"Great! Let me just drop my cat off back home, and I'll meet you there." Jon picks up his cat as he and Liz head out of the diner.
"Wait! I haven't gotten my food yet!" Garfield shouts.
"Order up!" Irma shouts, exiting the kitchen with plates full of food only to find nobody sitting at the table. "Hello? Anyone? *SIGH* Some people, I tell ya."