Chapter 15: Violet

The sun streamed through the partially opened curtains and hit my face. It was daytime, I stretched across the queen bed and let my toes crack. I looked over at the bedside clock and it read ten thirty-seven. Today was the first day since before the takeover that I could do anything I wanted. I was free. What did I want to do first? I definitely needed new clothes and some bathroom supplies. The motel soap was not going to last me too many more showers. And I was going to take some amazing showers. And a toothbrush and toothpaste.

As I lay there making a mental list of items that I needed to get, my stomach growled. “But first breakfast!” I got up and splashed water on my face, ran my fingers through my hair, grabbed a stack of cash from my duffle bag, and slipped on my flip flops.

Before I left my room, I stopped. I couldn’t just leave a duffle bag of money sitting on the side chair. I grabbed it and walked around the room. I could put it in one of the drawers in the dresser. But that would be the first place someone would look. I went to the bathroom and decided to hide it behind the toilet. That would be the last place I would look.

After I felt satisfied with my hiding spot, I put the stack of cash into my pocket and left. I grabbed my sunglasses from the dresser and locked the door behind me. I hopped into my jeep I started cruising around the town. I took a left before the gas station and found myself downtown. The buildings all looked as if they were from the eighteen hundreds and even the main road was cobblestone.

People walked down the sidewalk. Everyone smiled as they made their way to whatever destination they walked toward. Then I saw it, heaven. On the right a building said ‘Diner.’ I quickly parked my vehicle and hopped out.

I walked through the door and the best smells wafted up my nose. It was a mix of eggs, pancakes, and hash browns. My mouth started to water.

“Hi! Go ahead and take an open table dear. I’ll be right with you.” An older woman said, as she poured coffee into a man’s cup that sat at the counter. I made my way to the back and chose a booth away from the entrance. I sat with the bruised side of my face toward the wall. I already looked homeless; I didn’t want to cause alarm to any other locals.

The diner had red vinyl booths and spinning chairs around the counter. Pictures from what looked like the nineteen fifties graced the walls. People smiled, sat at one of the booths with a plate of food in front of them. A sign that said, ‘Best coffee in the world.’ Coffee sounded great.

“Sorry, dear.” The woman from earlier came and sat down a menu in front of me. Her name tag said ‘Madge.’ “Can I get you anything to drink?” Her aura resembled that of the guy in the motel office. Not as strong but the aura was still there. She was a werewolf. But she didn’t seem like she was afraid of me like he did. Maybe her age allowed her to know good from evil.

I smiled at her. “Can I get a cup of coffee and an orange juice?”

“Of course, you can!” She said flipping over the coffee mug that was on the table and poured the brown liquid. “Now take a look at that menu and I’ll go grab you your juice and I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She winked at me.

“Thank you.” Her kindness made my eyes tear up. Just that small gesture showed more kindness than I had felt since the takeover. Of course, except for Myrtle. She was a complete stranger and yet she didn’t attack me or make me feel like a freak. A tear streamed down my cheek. I looked down at the menu, now blurry as more tears threatened to spill. I wiped away what I could and tried to focus on the words. I pulled my sunglasses off.

“Oh no! Dear what’s wrong?” Madge said as she came back to my table with the orange juice.

“Oh nothing,” I sniffed.

“You and I both know that’s a lie.”

“It’s just, I’ve had a rough couple of days and the realization is just settling in.” I said through sniffles.

Madge took a tissue and grabbed my face and started to dry the tears. “Now, it definitely looks like you have had more than a couple of rough days.” She said and looked at the bruise that graced the right side of my face.

“Yeah.” Was all I could say as I tried to get a hold of myself.

Madge patted my back as I stopped sniffling and the tears stopped. “There we go. Did anyone ever tell you that you have very beautiful eyes?”

I chuckled at her. “Yeah, that’s usually the first thing people notice.”

“Very striking.”

“Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “Now that the theatrics are over what would you recommend?” I said and looked at the menu. Everything looked delicious.

“Do you eat everything?”

I looked at her quizzically.

“I mean do you eat meat or are you one of those vegetarians?”

“Oh yeah, I eat everything.”

“Deluxe coming right up! How do you like your eggs?” Madge said as she wrote down on her pad.

“Ummm, sunny side up please.”

“Coming right up!” She turned and walked to the window that led to the kitchen and put a piece of paper on a device that spun around.

I grabbed the coffee mug that was in front of me and took a sip. It tasted like pure heaven. But needed a little sweetness. I grabbed a packet of sugar that was in a little container that sat next to the condiments against the wall. I took another sip. Perfection. I smiled at the mug as I drank. I wondered if this was why those people walking down the street were smiling.

“Here you go!” Madge said as she laid a large plate in front of me full of hashbrowns, three sausage links, three strips of bacon, toast that was in triangles and three eggs. Then she sat another smaller plate with three pancakes next to my big plate.

“Oh my god. This looks amazing.” I said as I put my napkin on my lap.

“Tuck in, dear.” Madge said as she gave me a wink and walked away.

I stabbed a link and took a bite. It was so delicious. I didn’t realize just how hungry I was because I started using both of my hands to get the food to my mouth. The bacon was crispy, I stabbed an egg as it oozed yolk onto my hashbrowns. I used the toast to sop up the yolk and took a bite. Everything was so amazing. I couldn’t decide on what was my favorite.

I took the syrup that was in a little pitcher and poured it over the pancakes. I used my fork to slice through the three layers and put them in my mouth. “Oh my god.” I said to the plate in front of me.

“How is everything?” Madge said as she filled my mug with coffee. I looked at her with food stuffed in my cheeks like a chipmunk.

“Amazing!” I said and swallowed. “I haven’t had a meal this delicious in a long time.”

“I’m glad you like it dear. Let me know if you need anything else.”

I continued to eat. In no time, my plate was empty, and I was stuffed. I could barely move.

“I haven’t had a patron eat with so much gusto in a long time.” Madge said as she grabbed the empty plates.

“It was hard not to. The food was so delicious.”

“Well, I do have to say you are more than welcome to come and eat here anytime.”

“Thank you.”

“Did you need anything else?”

“Nope, just the check please.” I said, then started to think. I didn’t know where people shopped here. I needed clothes, underwear, and basic human essentials.

Madge came back and placed a piece of paper face down on the table.

“I do have a question.”

“What can I do for you?”

“Where do people shop in this town? I would like to get some clothes that won’t make me look like I’m a homeless person.” I said, gesturing toward my sweatsuit.

“Of course! In town we don’t have too many clothing stores but about twenty minutes away there’s a bigger town that has a Target that may have clothes you would like.”

“That sounds great. Do you have directions or a map I can take a look at?”

“Does your phone have GPS?”

“Um, I don’t have a phone.” I said and looked at her confused.

“You don’t have a cell phone?” She asked me.

“No, I think that’s something I need to get as well. I think I need to make a list.”

“Of course! You can get a phone at Target in the electronics section. They also have a pharmacy, grocery store and beauty section,” Madge said knowingly. “It’s really easy to get there. You want to go down Fifth Avenue, take a right on the highway. You will stay on that road until you see Target on your left. You can’t miss it.”

“That’s great. I can’t thank you enough,” I said. I pulled out a hundred and handed it to her. “Keep the change.”

Madge looked down at the bill and back at me. “I can’t take this. Your bill wasn’t even twenty dollars.”

“I can tell you this, you deserve way more than that.” I smiled at her. “Now that I’m stuffed, I think I will make my way over to Target and see what I can get.” I shifted out of the booth and stood up. “I’ll definitely be back.”

“You have a great day dear.”

I stopped at the door and turned. “I’m Violet.” I smiled at Madge.

“Madge.” She said and pointed at her name tag. “That’s Wilber.” She pointed to the kitchen window. A spatula waved out the window.

“Nice to meet you both!” I pushed through the door and left.