I’ve always been impressed that the apostrophe is in the right place on the old neon sign. It would have added to the cost, but I guess the original ‘Chick’ wanted everything to be just right.
Somehow, the old diner has continued in business with parking in rear, despite sitting on an expensive piece of real estate.
The block would have been on the edge of town when the diner opened, but these days it has been gobbled up by progress.
Steak and Chops are still on the menu, but I prefer the sausages and eggs.
Back in the day, it is said that ‘Chick’s’ stayed open twenty-four hours. These days, it’s open until two in the morning, which is okay by me. The opening and closing hours are flexible, and if the diner has customers at closing time, it stays open until they want to leave, which kind of makes you feel wanted, and I guess if you are up at that hour, you are in need of a bit of comfort.
When I can’t sleep, I wander down to ‘Chick’s’ and sit and write. As long as I buy coffee, they don’t seem to mind.
Taxi driver’s and emergency workers love the place.
The girl who works the late shift is friendly and knows how to listen in the same way that a good bartender does.
No-one messes with her because the short-order cook is a big bloke and rumour has it he strangled someone over a parking space.
Speaking of parking — I rarely drive to the diner, living as close as I do, but when I do arrive in a car, I’m allowed to park out the front. Someone said that it was like receiving a gold medal at the Olympics. Only me and the cops are allowed to park out the front. I don’t know what I did to receive such a high honour, but I have learned not to argue with good fortune. I park out front now and then to show that I can. It has raised my standing in the community.
I found a wallet on the floor of a booth once. I returned it intact even though I hadn’t sold a story in a long while. There was fifty bucks in that wallet, and I was sorely tempted, but I knew my mum would have been disappointed in me if I lifted the money. I remember the look on the bloke’s face when I banged on his door and gave him the wallet.
“Thank you,” he said, “I wasn’t supposed to be in that part of town that night,” he said, handing me the fifty. “Please don’t mention where you found it.”
“Who are you?” said an aggressive woman who reminded me of one of my aunties — the one I was still scared of.
“Just came to return a wallet,” I said, taking a step back.
She pushed her husband to one side and stared at me.
“Where did you find it?” she said.
I looked over my shoulder and noticed the flowers growing on the lawn.
“Just over there, near the footpath,” I lied.
The woman glared at me, and behind her, I saw the man give me a nod.
“Don’t think you’re getting a reward,” said the angry woman.
“No need for a reward lady. It’s enough to see your smiling face,” I said as I stepped back out of range.
I could see my mum smiling as I told her the story. She would be proud of me, and I wished she was still alive so I could see her smile one more time.
A great opening sentence! Followed by an equally great yarn! It’s the little “irrelevant” details – like parking the car – that give your stories the touch of gold!
Thank you, Yvonne. Glag you liked the story and pleased that you took a moment to say so. Yes, that is an MG out front. I’m not an expert on early MG’s but it might be a TF. My interest peaked with the MGA and of course the fabulous MGB. I used to drag race against our local MGB. We were evenly matched, but my heavily financed Cortina GT was just a bit quicker.
Terry
I had a lovely MGA, but it was a cow to keep tuned with its twin carburetors. Still, on a lovely day, I wish I had it to vroom around the mountain roads!
I can see you, zooming along. My wife bought an old MX5 many years ago. Loved that car. Our son drives it these days. Nothing like a convertible with the top down.
I echo Bruce (‘way up there in the comments) – deft, apparently irrelevant details make a big difference, and they are one of your hallmarks. But I’m in love with this story from the get-go, since, like Chick, I believe in apostrophes. (And aren’t I just the cutest relic imaginable?)
That made me smile as I thought alternatively about your impressive good dead and thoughts about an all-day cooked breakfast. Oh yes, this is the life !
That made me remember my mom. Lovely story.
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What a lovely comment. Thank you.
Terry
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A great opening sentence! Followed by an equally great yarn! It’s the little “irrelevant” details – like parking the car – that give your stories the touch of gold!
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Thanks, Bruce. I appreciate your keen eye and I like that you take a moment away from writing to read my stuff, my prolific friend.
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Here’s another one giving a thumbs up to your story. And it that an MG parked in front of Chick’s Diner?
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MG stands for Morris Garage. You can still by cars with this classic early 20century look as a kit for self assembling. My former landlady had one.
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Thank you, Yvonne. Glag you liked the story and pleased that you took a moment to say so. Yes, that is an MG out front. I’m not an expert on early MG’s but it might be a TF. My interest peaked with the MGA and of course the fabulous MGB. I used to drag race against our local MGB. We were evenly matched, but my heavily financed Cortina GT was just a bit quicker.
Terry
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Yes, I think it is a TF.
I had a lovely MGA, but it was a cow to keep tuned with its twin carburetors. Still, on a lovely day, I wish I had it to vroom around the mountain roads!
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I can see you, zooming along. My wife bought an old MX5 many years ago. Loved that car. Our son drives it these days. Nothing like a convertible with the top down.
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For a moment as I read this I felt like I was in there, drinking coffee and writing stories late at night. It was a great moment.
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Thank you. No greater thrill than to transport a reader into a story.
Terry
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You do it well.
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I echo Bruce (‘way up there in the comments) – deft, apparently irrelevant details make a big difference, and they are one of your hallmarks. But I’m in love with this story from the get-go, since, like Chick, I believe in apostrophes. (And aren’t I just the cutest relic imaginable?)
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Love your comments….. large smile on face. Thank you for taking the time.
Terry
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That made me smile as I thought alternatively about your impressive good dead and thoughts about an all-day cooked breakfast. Oh yes, this is the life !
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All day breakfast is one of the great inventions of all time.
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