Of Dishes In Diners

Fall hasn’t always been this cold. Ellie remembers a time when the hat and gloves currently adorning her person would have been uncomfortable and made her sweat through her uniform. It seems the last two years or so had made up their collective minds to usher in the ice age her sister has been so adamant is on its way. Regardless, Ellie is late once again and even an ice age can’t save her from the consequences of that blunder. Harvey’s is a place that can be smelled before it can be seen and smell it, she does. Ellie can smell the diner before she even rounds the corner. The scent is overwhelming and familiar and it’s the only thing Ellie doesn’t hate about Stanfield. Taking one last breath she steels herself for battle and walks into to the diner. “You. No. You can go home. Third strike you’re out, KO, touchdown, whatever the heck the straights are saying now. You’re fired,” Joe isn’t even looking at her and to be honest she can’t even blame him. He says three strikes, but if they’re being real it’s closer to 10 at this point. “I thought today was your day with the car anyway?” “It was supposed to be, but Jake took it out last night and hasn’t come back yet.” Ellie can see the moment Joe breaks. His shoulders droop and the breath he lets out, though a bit excessive, is a clear sign of resignation and music to Ellie’s overly attentive ears. It’s a good thing, she thinks not for the first time, Joe hates her dad. Bringing him up a is a guaranteed get out of jail free pass wherever Joe is concerned. Joe stands, arching a perfectly shaped brow at her. “Dishes. All day. Make me mad and it’ll be all week.” “Fair enough.” Ok, maybe not free. Dish duty sucked, but it was also the only job in the diner you could do while jamming out. This is how it came to be that Joe walked into the back, new guy trailing behind, to find his most mediocre employee blasting Billie Jean and dancing like MJ himself was there. Joe was no saint and the thought of letting this drag on while the, quite frankly Adonis of a man watched, was titillating. Before he could decide either way, his unfortunate friend slipped on a wet spot and plummeted towards the tile. Gathering herself she mimed a film marker and stood, grimacing at the water mess, “And… cut!” Joe cleared his throat belatedly announcing his and the new hire’s arrival. “Nice to see I can leave you alone.” “Isn’t it just?” Joe grunted. “Ellie, this is Reggie. Reggie, Ellie. You two will be on dishes. I was going to recommend you help Reggie on his first day but…” Joe trailed off eyeing Ellie. The sigh and accompanying eyeroll, dramatic though they may be, brought a trace of a smile to Reggie’s face as he watched the antics between boss and employee. “So, Reggie.” Ellie started not sure where she was going, “You moving to Stanfield?” It was a stupid question. They both knew, but it got them started. And from then on, they didn’t stop. For weeks. “How do you not smell that?” “Stanfield natives are born with a genetic mutation that makes them immune to smelling 24-hour joints like Harvey’s.” And weeks. “Not. A. Word.” “I mean, sure. But how are you planning to get home without a car or a ride?” “We’ll walk.” “Not after that stunt you won’t.” And weeks. “Watch the lever there, if you turn it before the hatch is completely sealed the hot water will burn you.” They were back where they started. Joe had grounded them. Sent them to dish duty like the children they were being. “Is that what happened here?” Reggie reached out and touched her forearm. Gently tracing a scar that covered most of it. Ellie looked up at him expecting to see pity and finding curiosity, anger. She had jokingly talked about her useless dad and she could guess Joe had probably been loose lipped on what he had pieced together over the years. This was heavy. They’d never been heavy. This was a lot. Like suddenly sensing Ellie’s discomfort, Reggie let go of her. “We should get out of here.” He smiled. “We’re still on shift.” “It’s dead out there, there’s a load in the dryer. Let’s go!” He grabbed her hand and smiled again. Ellie was sure there was at least one song written about that smile. “We’ll need a plan.” Like all good plans, it starts with a blowjob. “You can’t be serious.” Joe eyed them skeptically. Reggie, for his part looked dead serious. “Yeah boss. Right out back. It’s disgusting you gotta go take care of it!” “I can’t believe this I haven’t had to deal with public indecency near my diner in decades what’s gotten into people?” As Joe stomped his way out back Ellie and Reggie grabbed their things and dashed for their own exit. When finally, safe Ellie allowed herself a moment to breathe. She looked up towards Reggie the biggest smile she could remember having. What she found was the most breathtaking sunset Stanfield had ever witnessed. She felt a hand find its way to hers. Fingers entwining, chilled from the cold. Yes, Fall hasn’t always been this cold, but it’s never been this beautiful.