Diner

Mack Kelly never recalled it before- that was puzzling, given the frequency of his route- but at sixty miles per hour there's no time to think, veering over and gearing down the off-ramp to a quarter his speed.

The diner had suddenly appeared out of nowhere on the I40N, just a fuzzy glow rectangle embracing a hillside, with some big rig parking in front.

Kelly couldn't see anyone inside, but it was all very bright and open, so he felt lucky. Driving thru midnight desert and mountain highway for hours, a break wAould be good. Coffee. Maybe some pie after a burger. He deftly rolled his 18-wheeler into a safe slot, eventually climbing down. After being in his cab, the diner was almost too bright. Hand shielding his eyes, Kelly saw no one, still no movemenr at all inside.

The front door set off a little bell, but the tinkling chime was the only sound. He walked up to the counter and sat down on the round cushion stool. This diner was really old school, Kelly thought, like vintage 50's style, cool.

Everything was shiny bright and immaculately clean, almost shimmering, brand new looking- but still, not a soul there besides himself. Kelly assumed someone would soon come out, so he just waited, glad to be stationary for a change.

But, after ten long minutes of silence, no one came out. Kelly began to wonder. At that surreal moment, a woman's friendly voice seemed to come from the double coffee maker across the counter: "Enjoy your meal tonight?"

Kelly was startled. Seeing no one, he replied, "Uh, right. Haven't ordered yet."

The voice resumed the disembodied exchange, seemingly out of the walls this time, or maybe ceiling. "And how will you be paying tonight?"

"What? Look..cash, I guess, where..."

"You've had enough time to view the menu?", the voice from nowhere again.

Kelly stood up, and suddenly the little bell atop the front door began chiming continuously. Then, from outside, he frighteningly heard the familiar deep roar of his rig starting up, with all its lights flashing wildly. Kelly flew out the door to his truck, which then turned off.

Reaching up and opening his door, he cautiously climbed back into the darkened cab. Holding his breath, Kelly cranked the key- it fired back up with a powerful jolt, and steady engine hum. Kelly never heard a more blessed sound in his entire God-fearing life. He looked again at the diner in his right side mirror- it was dark.

"Yeah, right, of course, no worries. Don't need no creepy pie after all, we're oughta here, baby, gone!", Kelly said to no one but the lit-up dashboard, shifting thru the gears, the welcome I40N steady ahead.