Cafe Saturnia

“That’s a strange sign to hang on the door of a restaurant.” Thomas said, stopping just before he reached the curb.

Trina skipped over the sidewalk and to the door and snickering, “It’s Edgar Allen Poe. Never heard of him?”

“Of course I’ve heard of him, but it’s still strange to have his quote on the door of a restaurant.”

“Well, it’s a diner and it’s open 24 hours, which makes that quote clever af and my aunt says that they have the best cheeseburgers in all of Elmira. And you wanted cheeseburgers, so we’re here!” Trina motioned at Saturania’s 24 hour diner.

“I’m gonna have a smoke.” He pulled out his cigarettes and lit one.

“Okay, well, I’ll go in and order and we can talk about Cindy’s birthday party in Cabo this weekend."

“Sounds great, babe. I want extra bacon on mine.” He took a long drag.

“Ooh that sounds good. I think I’m getting the same thing.” Trina went inside.

His cigarette was already at the filter, he lit another and took a long drag, observing the sky as it darkened. For a moment, he thought it seemed as it were on fast forward; rushing towards the end of the night. The moon approaching fast.

The cigarette was gone again as though it were made out of ashes. Thomas checked the time: 6:30pm. He lit another.

The sun had fully set behind the diner.

“I guess that is kind of clever” Reconsidering the quote as he went inside.

‘Sleep, those little slices of death; Oh how I loathe them.’

A big dial clock hang over the red brick oven directly in front of the door. 4:27 Los Angeles.

Fresh baked bread pumped out of the oven rapidly and into the kitchen.

The rest of the room was painted a soft grey, even the floors and tables. Eight other clocks lined the walls with different times. The one right above Trina read 7:29 Elmira, New York.

Thomas looked at his watch again, it said 7:30.

That was weird- he could have sworn it said 6:30. Maybe the clocks were off… maybe he was off.

He observed; the diner was nearly empty. There were 9 people there including him. The diners in the corner looked up at him and watched him as though he were more interesting than the food they were eating- though they kept eating. His stomach dropped. He snickered; for a moment it felt as though they were eating him.

Everyone was eating cheeseburgers with so much cheese that it dripped off of the burgers with every greasy, hungry bite. He recognized his old boss sitting at the window booth with her husband, separate, but together. Too far to communicate, but still at the same, oddly long booth. She didn’t look up from her burger, too busy admiring the subtle taste of star anise that coated her tongue. How could they make that taste good in a burger? Furthermore, how come her food didn't taste as good as this?

She scanned the restaurant and quickly looked away from the fleeting eyes of of an ex employee. She'd never made anything as good as this in her life. Why didn't she cook like this? Why couldn't she? She took another bite hoping that she could calculate how she could do that too.

The taste reminded her of Christmas and all the presents she still needed to buy. Her youngest daughter Alaina wanted a Barbie styling head and her middle daughter Anya wanted clothes and new Jordans. She had wanted new Jordans too when she was a child, when she was 15, but her father didn't like the style. 'Too many rappers wear those things. I can't have you looking like you're in a gang.' He'd bought her some off brand sneakers instead so that she could avoid the 'downfall of materialism' then of the presents she had never gotten and things she could never do when she was younger because of her father's religious beliefs.

Her mother was just as bad. Nothing that she ever did was good enough. 'That chicken was good, but next time add a little less sauce.', 'That hamburger needed to have some more of this and that.' Always something different, she could never win.

Her husband looked up at her and squinted in a similar analysis; her food never tastes as good as this.

Thomas spotted Trina and sat down.

“Babe! You made it, I thought I left you at home for a moment.” Trina giggled, tucking her curly blond hair behind her ear. She already had two plates in front of her and was in the process of eating a burger. She was on the last bites.

“Did you eat my burger?”

“I'm sorry, babe, it was so good.” She smiled at him without really meeting his eyes. There was something about her eyes that made his stomach twist for a very fleeting moment.

“Hello,” A tall black woman appeared out of nowhere.

Thomas flustered. That funny feeling in his stomach was like fire and ice. He wanted to stand up. He didn’t stand up. He looked away. He looked at Trina, who was staring up at her with an admiring smile on her face.

“Welcome to Saturania diner. My name is Menina. I’ll be your host this evening, would you like to start your stay with the Saturn retrograde tea ala chef Antania?”

He nodded.

Menina looked at him and he looked up at her. She was really pretty, with the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen. She had a tint of red in her dark brown eyes. Her curly hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail that made him feel like he wanted to touch it.

“Okay, and it sounds like you’d also like the cheeseburger deluxe meals? Extra pickles and bacon and a side of coleslaw?” She asked.

“That sounds great, babe, what do you think?” Trina looked at Thomas, who was in just as much wonder as she was, but for different reasons. He nodded, still looking at, Menina.

“Is that all for you?” Menina looked at him. He nodded his head again.

Menina smiled and walked away.

Trina picked up her phone and took a selfie, leaning into him for a kiss.

“That’s so cute. Let’s take another one.”

They took eight more pictures. By the time they were finished, Menina was back with their food.

“Wow, this looks really good.” He said. Menina smiled.

It smelled even better. Like sweet roses and red onions. It tasted even better, like buttery, sweet, garlic with a hint of… lime and corn? It was weird. It was so good.

He felt strange for liking it, but he loved it.

He savored every bite. He tasted every one intimately. Just him and the soft, buttery bun.

It was over too soon.

“Chef Antania would like to know if everything was to your liking?” Menina smiled at him. The clock read 9:42.

What time had he gotten there? He wanted another cheeseburger.

“Yes it was amazing. Can I please have another?”

“I’ll have another one too.”

Thomas looked surprised to see Trina sitting across from him. Had she been staring at him with that insane look of admiration the whole time? Her eyes were wide and googly like a school girls. He looked away.

“Not a problem, I’ll refill your drinks as well.” Menina took their glasses and went back to the kitchen. The clock read 9:56.

There were two other people sitting in the booth across from them. New people. A brown haired woman that he thought he recognized and a man that looked like a ghost, his pale white skin drowned out by by his dark brown hair.

The woman ate French Fries by the hand full and the man one at a time, at a lightning speed that made Thomas stare to count. He must have felt Thomas's eyes on him because he looked up, catching Thomas's eyes. The man l0oked up at Thomas and stared at him with wide unconditional eyes.

He barely noticed Thomas's stare. His mind was filled with the anticipation of his next bite of the delicious salty fries that had a slight taste of coriander that made him think about home. His real home where he'd grown up with his mother. He missed his mother and her silky red hair and sweet perfume. Her hugs that made him remember that he was a winner and not a loser. Fuck Scooter Sherwin.

He thought of her smile, the smile that made the other women on the block jealous and filled with hate that sponsored rumors about husbands that she'd never even spoken to as far as he knew. Her always manicured nails that changed to various shades of pink. The taste of coriander reminded him of her lamb chops. No one cooked lamb chops like her nor gave her the feeling of absolute comfort like her food did, but this burger was a close runner up. He sighed, suddenly wishing that he would never leave.

The look in his eyes was of pure love and it made Thomas feel very uncomfortable.

Thomas looked down, a full cup of Retrograde tea sat before him. 'Didn't she take that cup?' He thought to himself. Across from him light from Trina's camera flashed, she posed with her peace sign and tongue out, a semblance of fun. "I'm so pretty," She thought to herself.

She could see herself living the life that she deserved

"Babe, when did we get our drinks?"

The taste of roses danced on Thomas's tongue. The signature of chef Antania. Trina barely looked up from her phone and shrugged. Thomas's stomach growled with impatience just as her saw Menina approaching with their burgers.

“Excellent. Thank you.” He stared at her beautiful brown red eyes. He loved her. She placed both plates down and smiled; "You're welcome. Let me know if you need anything else."

Thomas bit into his burger as did Trina, who held her phone in one hand and her burger in the other. The bacon had a slightly sweet taste to it, a hint of roses and honey in it. How was it that he could taste almost each ingredient, yet it still tasted amazing. Time passed as though it weren’t even there at all. When she came back it was as though she’d never left at all. He blinked. Menina was there. It was 12:30. What time had he gotten there?

“I’ll have another.”