Another morning dawned at the Sunrise Diner. Cheryl, its only waitress, cleaned the six center tables in preparation for the breakfast crowd, such that it was. The place was a converted two-story Victorian off the main drag, bordered by other old houses, treed gullies, and a railroad crossing. Its clients tended toward old timers who went out of their way for the slower pace and retro charm of this suburban oasis.
One of these was Briley, whose old van was a fixture in the gravel parking lot. His big frame sauntered in, sporting glasses and a hunting cap. With laser focus he aimed for the coffee station and outrageously chatted up a construction type, who didn't seem to mind.
At the deli counter, C M Funk served up a double cheeseburger for one of the stool sitters. He wore limp blond hair and a wispy goatee as a badge of generation Y cool. As such, people like Briley struck him as fossils. He said as much to Cheryl when things slowed down. She was after all a fellow gen Y-er with red pony tail, and crazy zebra glasses with red lens frames.
"Mr Wonderful," C M quipped, "like clockwork. He makes a production out of it: a little sugar, then stir and taste; a little cream, then stir and taste. He oughta have it down to a science by now."
Cheryl made a half grin. "Give the poor guy a break. This is the high point of his day, and he isn't going to rush it."
Briley usually waited until the sunny corner booth became available.
"There he goes," C M said. "Don't tell me you're gonna spend your break with him again."
Cheryl waved that off. "He's a funny man to talk with. I can play with my ipad anytime. Maybe I won't tell him C M stands for Caroll Milton." That drew a sour face from C M.
As usual, Briley played down his own story in favor of Cheryl's. She didn't mind admitting to seeing less of her man than she'd like; he was gong to night school, trying for safer work that eliminated heights and fumes. No, they hadn't started a family yet, though Cheryl wanted to. Briley got a kick out of her theory as to why the owner had built here: when cars got blocked by the train, many would pull into the diner to wait it out. A captive--and paying--audience.
After Cheryl went back to work, Briley made a call to his lawyer."Bret? I done made up my mind. Let's make sure it's air tight."
"Okay, Mr Briley, if you're sure. One and a half million is quite a life savings, and your kin are not going to be happy."
"The hell with 'em. They knowed for a whole year I'm runnin' outta time. The doctor ain't even givin' me two months. Has the first one of 'em even called me? Hell naw. I'd rather for this girl to have it than them vultures."
With that taken care of, Briley headed out, turning to wave to Cheryl.
She returned the gesture. "See you tomorrow, Mr Briley!"
He grinned. "Hope so, dahlin', hope so."
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