Road Side Cafe'

“Henry we have been on the road for twelve hours now and I’m beginning to feel faint, pull over now before we get too deep in white trash country and can’t find a decent meal.”

            “Margaret I will stop when the GPS tells me to stop. Do you want to end up lost or stranded if by chance we blow a tire? It’s not a woman’s place to tell a man what he’s doing. Now shut up woman we will be pulling off at the next exit!” Henry said furiously. As they passed a sign saying Road Side Café’ next exit the check engine light came on. Henry slowly steered the RV off the highway and onto the shoulder.

             “God dam it woman, now look what you did, all that hot air coming out of your mouth over heated the engine.” Henry cussed while climbing out the driver side door. Margaret pretended not to hear him and calmly made her way off the shoulder and into the grass. As Henry poked around under the hood acting as if he knew what was wrong, Margaret removed a traveling make up kit from her purse and tidied up.

            “Well seems to me we just need to let her cool off. Now can you stop scrawling long enough for us to make up to that Café’ or should I just leave you here?” Margaret was use to Henry degrading her and simply smiled. It was known in Margaret’s family that the men do all the talking and make all the rules. A woman’s job was simply to provide children, cook, clean, and satisfy the needs of their husband’s lustful desires. But Margaret had already provided Henry with four boys and a girl, and well over the years he seemed less interested in her body and more into the neighbors. She was thirteen years younger than Margaret and had always kept a flirtatious eye on Henry. It was just the way things were. She was nothing more to Henry now than a partner in a play. Being a Wall Street top dog he had to keep a public eye. Being married for twenty years was just a part of it. Everyone knew these men had mistresses, but it was never spoken of, unless that is a reporter just so happen to find out.

            “Margaret would you stop day dreaming and hurry up! It’s bad enough you’ve gotten old and fat, I don’t need people thinking your slow too.”  He yelled while dragging her by the arm. As they reached the Café’ a truck came flying in covering Henry and Margaret in a cloud of dust. Two young boys jumped out the truck and headed inside. When Henry stopped gagging he marched right in the Café’ after the two not even checking to see if Margaret was ok. She simply dusted herself off and swallowed what little pride she had left. A couple glared at her from inside the Diner. She smiled back at them and made her way into the Café’ where she found Henry blue in the face on the ground. Apparently these two boys didn’t know about Wall Street and to them being rude is followed up with a punch to stomach. This pleased her but she didn’t let it show.

            “Mam would you like a cup of coffee?” a kind voice asked from behind her. She turned and nodded. As the waitress filled her cup she took a glance at the menu that was strangely decorated with a dead possum sitting in a skillet. She decided to not let the simple art ruin what would surely her only meal for sometime. She flipped open the page to the lunch section where a wide verity or hamburgers and steaks were listed. She couldn’t help but notice the review of the “Gosh so tasty beast burger”. She placed on her reading glasses and took a closer look. “Boy ye going to be as happy as a tonader in a trailer park after eating this baby!” she couldn’t help but laugh. These people sure did know how to relax. Hell she thought, even their food doesn’t take the slightest bit of intelligence to pronounce.

            “Mam have you decided on anything to eat?” the young waitress questioned. Margaret nodded and asked for the Gosh so tasty beast burger. The waitress smiled and returned to the cook to give him the order. By that time Henry had managed to crawl over to the counter and take a large sip of Margaret’s coffee. He glared at her momentarily and called over the waitress.

            “Miss I’m sorry but has my wife ordered yet?” Henry questioned. The waitress simply answered yes and asked if he wanted the same. He started to grind his teeth and turn red in the face. “Well miss that may be possible if I knew what she was having. You know I know it doesn’t take a genius to do your job but Jesus lady you knew I wasn’t over here when that b***h ordered so why would you assume I knew what she ordered.”

            As the waitress began to speak Henry cut her off. “No don’t f*****g speak back to me w***e. Just get out your f*****g pencil cancel her order, and get me a dam steak, well done with some mashed potatoes.” The waitress stared at Margaret for a moment and then wrote down Henry’s order. “And if the b***h is hungry maybe you can bring a trash can out so she can really eat like a pig then.” By that time Margaret had had enough. Being a lady she wasn’t use to releasing herself to her emotions but she felt that this time was as good as any. With a swift jab she punched Henry in the balls and poured the rest of her coffee on his face. He cried and screamed for awhile but Margaret didn’t care, she awaited her burger ate merrily and then hitched a ride with the two boys in the truck to the nearest bus station, where she called her lawyer and set her self free.     

                       

Reviews

[Shellie]

Great story I absolutely loved it. That Henry was a right a*s**** altogether and you did a great job of portraying both his and Margarets personalities. Nicely done.