Everyone is tired from the weekend and sleepily trying to find their footing on this Monday.
The satellite single fades in and out of the 70s station blaring above the grills so words are missing from familiar songs.
"Everybody plays the ... no exception to the ..."
"FOOL Dammit!" EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL!" Jodee screams as he jiggles the wires.
The staff is busy preparing to open and aren't listening as they fill ketchep bottles, fry bacon, restock bread shelves and set tables.
Sitting beside me, John smiles but doesn't say anything.
I shrug my shoulders and sip coffee.
It's a Monk-like morning as the world swirls preparing for work and I sit prayerfully contemplating the universe.There's nothing I really have to do today.
Except take care of Sarah who isn't feeling well and I dote on her anyway so her upset belly is just another reason to dote more.
We have to decide what to make the girls for dinner tonight but other than that ... I can sit Monk-like with no need to say anything to anybody except God.
"Mutha-fu ..." John mutters as the door opens and one of the most obnoxious customers in the universe takes the stool between us.
Immediately he talks about the weather, John's work and obscenely thrusts his pelvis towards Mindy who is bending over preparing a mornings worth of coffee.
John interrupts him by placing an order.
I ignore him by staring at the newspaper that I've already read lapsing back into morning prayers.
Minutes turn into seconds and John leaves so I'm alone with a man who just can't shut up.
Because he's utterly incapable of remaining silent, he asks, "So what are you doing today?"
This is when I love who I am. I have lots of answers depending on my mood.
If I want to talk I say I'm a writer and that leads to a billion questions.
If I want to confuse him, I say what I'm working on forcing him to think between asking what I'm talking about.
If I want him to shut the Hell up, I play my Baptist Minister card ... "I'm just talking to God today.
We're making plans."
He doesn't know what to say so he pays and leaves.
It works every time.
"ALRIGHT!" Jodee proclaims as Barry White "Can't get enough of your love baby."
Heaving myself up to brace the bitter wind, I salute, say "Goodbye Kiddies" and return home to check on Sarah who's still sleeping.
Meandering into the kitchen I stare out of the sliding glass doors at the leaves dancing in the breeze.
There's nothing to do except wait on God to say what we're doing next.
But I ask that Sarah feels better first.
Then ... it's back to waiting on God.
