[Dana's Diner: 1204 Sutter St San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 885-3288]
A local favorite, the neighborhood all night coffee shop and bistro is owned by Dana Wilson, who has cursed his parents for his name his whole life. Dana is aging now, but still makes a good sandwich and a mean cup of java. He has hired numerous college kids to keep up with volume, and to make the 'candy coffee' that so many people drink these days. He is a card carrying member of the NRA, and a staunch republican. According to him, George H W Bush is the best president there ever was, and if you make Dan Quayle jokes you can drink your damn coffee somewhere else. He takes no crap from anyone, and at 65 years old he can still whip your ass. Oh, and he remembers when gas was a nickel.
Jeff wiped his forehead with his sleeve, a gesture of exhausted frustration more than one of utility. He was on the last legs of his double and if that crotchity old man yelled at him one more time to wipe the fucking counter, he might just lose it. Jeff's relationship with Dana was a love/hate kind of thing...inasmuch as Jeff was pretty sure Dana loved to hate him. Often, and with extreme volume. But the job was good, and Dana wasn't so bad as long as you could stay out of sight...at least Jeff had the privilage of not being hunted down to recieve the verbal assaults Dana was famous for inflicting on the college kids dumb enough to think this would be a cake-job during their summers off. Now THAT was entertainment worth paying for. It was no surprise that the summertime business skyrocketed once the college kids started working here.
Glancing down at his watch, Jeff cursed silently. Grandfather would be waiting on him for yet another trip to see that doctor. It seemed all Jeff ever did anymore was work and drive Grandfather around. It's not that he minded, really...Grandfather was the only family he had left, but there were times when he dreamed about being able to just go and do what he wanted...just once. Just to experiance what it would be like to LIVE...
This dream was shattered, like so many others, by a sharp slap to the back of his head as Dana rounded the end of the counter Jeff was leaning on. As his stomach dropped down to take a good look at the floor for a lost contact, Jeff turned to face the old bastard, steeling himself for the worst.
His surprise was immesurable when all he got was, "You going to sit around here all day and look pretty? Get your ass out of here before I decide that counter still isn't clean. And take your silly daydreaming with you. Might be contagious...don't want these other little bastards catching it from your example!"
Blinking, Jeff dropped his rag, pulled off his apron and all but sprinted for the door. "Unexpected is good!" he said as he flew outside, nearly running into a small cluster of colledge kids who waved and laughed as he danced around them. He recognized a few of them on his way by, but another glance at his watch told him he wouldn't have time to stay and chat...oh well.
"I bet the heros in movie never run off into the sunset after getting off work", he thought as he turned west toward home.
Fear that which you have invited among you.
Wait with bated breath for what shall be revealed to you.
Revel in unabashed pleasure in that which you learn.
