The Diner

 

"That's the third customer who's complained about the milk, Ernie? Has it all gone bad?"

 

"Expiry date was two days ago. But that's the freshest they're gonna get—here or anywhere."

 

"Yeah, well you tell 'em Ernie, 'cause I'm fed up listening to their complainin."

 

"How many are out there now?"

 

"Just two—I mean a couple and then a family of four."

 

"How many complainers?"

 

"Six—seven counting me."

 

"What else are they going on about?"

 

"Aside from the milk, it's mostly what's happening out there."

 

"What have they told you about what's happening out there. I haven't stepped out since yesterday morning."

 

"It's quiet—like in an eerie kinda way—and it's too warm, especially for January."

 

"Any traffic, any news?"

 

"Nope."

 

"Are we they only ones with electricity and running water?"

"Seems so. Can't understand why that fellow in here first thing this morning left. Where can you go?"

 

"Did he say? Did you ask?"

 

"No, and he wasn't a talker. One of those you leave be."

 

"Did he pay?"

 

"Yeah, but what does it matter? Where we gonna spend any money we make here?"

 

...

 

"Think this'll last much longer, Ernie?"

 

"Hell, if I know. Two weeks back I woulda said 'No,' but— Hey, one of your customers is trying to get your attention."

 

"OK. You just let me know if anything else is spoiled ... like the eggs. Don't want folks getting sick on us. There's no help anywhere. Besides, I don't want to have to clean the restrooms every time somebody goes in."

 

Ernie lets the door to the kitchen swing closed, and Debbie makes her way to the table nearest the front door.

 

'Everything OK here?"

 

"The world around us is going to hell and you're asking if everything's OK?"

 

"Um. Well, ma'am. There's nothing I can do about out there, but I can try to make things a little better in here."

"Judy. Take it easy. It's not her fault. She's a victim just like us .... I'm sorry ma'am, but my wife is under a lotta stress and she's expecting as you can probably tell."

 

"Honey. I'm so sorry that you're in this situation. I have two boys of my own, and I remember how I felt responsible for everything when I was carrying them."

 

"Where are they now?"

 

"That, I can't say, but I think about 'em all day, every day."

 

"I'm sorry for taking it out on you. It must be hormones or—"

 

"Shhh, don't worry about it. This situation's testing us all, and sometimes we handle it better than other times."

 

"I'm sorry to have been so rude about the milk, too."

 

"Can't blame you. We haven't been able to get fresh milk in the last week. The eggs were amazing though, weren't they honey?"

 

"We don't have much in the way of fresh food. Our deliveries stopped two weeks ago, and we're just real lucky we've still got lights and water."

 

"We are both very happy and grateful to have been able to clean up in your restroom. It's so windy and dirty out there ... and so hard to breathe."

 

"I must've looked a mess when we came in."

 

"Well, we're happy to share what we have, as long as we can."

"You're very gracious ma'am ... especially under these circumstances. After wandering the streets in search of someone and some place, this place really is like a world apart. We've meet fewer people than we can count on our hands, and most of them—well, it's about survival isn't it? And like you said, some handle it better than others."

 

"Excuse me a minute. I think the other table is waving at me. I'll be right back if you need anything else."

 

"Thank you ma'am."

 

"How are we doing over here? Aside from the milk, is everything satisfactory?"

 

"I'm afraid Billy here is feeling a little sick. Could you get me an ice-cold wash cloth? And some Dramamine or whatever you call it up here. Gravol?"

 

"The wash cloth I can get, but we don't have much in the way of an emergency kit, and there are no anti-nausea meds in it."

 

"You're kidding. In an eating establishment, you have no medication for nausea? It's over-the-counter you know, not something that requires a prescription."

 

"Yes ma'am, I know, and I can tell you that I wish we did because I could use some myself these last several days."

 

"Alright then. The washcloth will have to do."

 

"I'll be right back. Is there anything else I can get you?"

 

"How about news. You've got people coming in here. Are they telling you anything? How about that couple over there?"

 

"Actually, what you see right now is a crowd. No one has anything new to tell. It's exactly like what you said you'd seen yourself."

 

"But you've got electricity, and no one else does. Anything on TV or radio or the Internet?"

 

"I'm afraid not, sir. Everyone's off the air, and the Internet went down right away. Never came back up."

 

"Maybe it's better back home. Maybe they just weren't prepared for ... this, whatever this is."

 

"Yes ma'am, that could be but we had a trucker in here yesterday who said the other side of the border is the same."

 

"Where did he go? Did he mention where he was going?"

 

"No, ma'am, he didn't. He came back to get his wife and kid. They live in town. Listen, let me go get that ice-cold washcloth. Billy's lookin a little a green in the gills. Be just a minute."

 

Alice pushes through the door to the kitchen. "Ernie, I think I'm gonna be sick."

 

"Nausea again?"

 

"Yeah, you think this could be more than just a bad case of nerves?"