Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative From: jdeclari@is.rpslmc.edu (John-William DeClaris) Subject: Solo2 Message-Id: <1993Oct27.191627.18024@rpslmc.edu> Nntp-Posting-Host: troosevelt.is.rpslmc.edu Organization: Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 19:16:27 GMT Sam started scraping down the grill. He had just started this morning at Mark's diner. He had not learned much about the people in this town, so he was unable to determine what the nature of the Leap was. The radio was playing and the music was a nice distraction. The cleaning the grill was not that difficult, but it was a messy job. As Sam was scraping, he noticed that the music on the radio had stopped and was replaced by the voice of a man. "We interrupt our program to bring you this message. There has been a train wreck on Route 1 to Baltimore. Several automobiles have also been involved. The State Police is asking all Maryland residents in that area to avoid using Route 1 for the next several hours. There are at least four known dead. Please stay tuned to WBAL radio further news. We now return you to out regularly scheduled program of music." "Terrible!" Mark said as he approached Sam. "Yeah, train wrecks are always bad news." Sam replied. "No. I was talking about the grill. WHo taught you to clean a grill like that." Mark stood in front of the grill and shook his head. "All you need to do is scrape the grease off. You see these scratches?" Mark pointed. Sam stared at where Mark was pointing. There were several small scratches. They did not appear that serious. "A grill should be smooth. There shouldn't be any nicks, scratches, or gouges. The grease on the sides! The way to do this is to scrape it all to one spot, and then scrape it off." Mark stared at Sam while he made that final point. "I was going to clean that when I was done." Sam responded. "You bet you were, but there is a quick 'n easy way to do this. We are not scouring the grill, just removing the last meal's deposits. Here let me show you." Mark took the scraper from Sam and began to work on the grill. In less than a minute, he had made short work of the grill. Two people walked into the diner. One was a woman, who looked worried, and the other was Bob, the policeman Sam had met earlier. They took two seats at the counter. "Why don't you see what they want, and I will finish up here," Mark said. Sam nodded and walked over to the two customers. The woman looked very agitated. Bob talked to her quietly. "Hi folks, what will you have?" Sam asked. Bob looked up. "I will have a coffee. How about you Shirley?" Shirley nodded in response. "Two coffees. Say, I don't think I have ever seen you before." "I am new. Mark just hired me to help out around here. My name is Sam Becket." At first, Sam did not know how to introduce himself, but then he realized that since he had his own body, why could he not use his own name? It felt good to be a complete person again, even if he could not go home. "Well Sam, I am glad to meet you. I am Bob Gill." Bob and Sam shook hand. "I will be back with your coffees." Sam got two cups and and poured the coffee. He could over hear Bob talking to Shirley. "Shirley, it will be okay. Jim probably had to run out and deal with an emergency. Besides, with that accident on Route 1, you would be delayed. You might even have been involved. Are you sure he did not leave a note?" Bob asked. "Positive! I just don't understand how he could up and leave without waking me. It is really spooky. I am scared. What if he was kidnapped, or if he is injured. We wouldn't be able to find him." Shirley started to cry. Mark heard the commotion and came out. He walked over to Shirley and knelt beside her. "Relax Shirley," He said calmly, "Jim is okay. He would not leave you when you are so close to being due." "When is the baby due?" Sam asked. Shirley looked up at Sam and noticed him for the first time. She stared at him for a few seconds, with a look of concentration on her face. Did she remember Sam last night. "The doctor said it could be anytime this week. That is why I and Bob were going to Bal-e-mor." Shirley's Maryland accent slurred Baltimore. It apparently was a local accent of Maryland to not say all the vowels on a word. Baltimore was not pronounced Bal-tee-more, but Bal-e-mor. Maryland was not Mary-land, but Mare-i-lun. Wives referred to their husbands as Huns, as in "huns, could you get me a drink of water?" Sometimes, Sam wondered if he was still in the United States. "You should take it easy, and relax. That could aggravate the your pregnancy." Sam said. "Besides, why would you want to go to Baltimore, when this is your home?" Mark asked. "Mama wanted me to be where there were good doctors. She's afraid that something could go wrong, and no one would be able to handle it here. Jim has a shirt just like that." Shirley said. "Everybody has a shirt just like that." Bob said. Bob paid for both coffees and he and Shirley left the diner. Sam watched Shirley get into the police car. She looked so afraid and vulnerable. Shirley stared back at Sam. The police car pulled away. "Poor Shirley. I just don't understand why Jim took off. It is really strange." Mark commented. "I though you said there was nothing to worry about?" Sam asked. "Sam, if my wife was having my first child, God himself could not pull me away from her side. You my friend, have a date with the bathroom." Mark pointed to a mop and a bucket. -- John-William DeClaris All comments made by me are mine and not reflective of RUSH or anyone else... even any spelling errors I most likely made. Live each day as if it were your last, because someday it will be.