Fiction: Second part

The second part is not finished, but I have to go off to work. So I thought I’d post what more I had written. I do want to say that what I post here is not fully flushed out, just getting the idea’s down.

Parking his truck in front of the Calico Saloon Roy shut the engine off and got out. Stepping inside the dimly lit bar he looked around and realized he was slightly early for the usual crowd on Monday. He sat at the bar and looked up at the black and white television. He seemed to be looking at the news broadcast despite the lack of sound coming from the set. The bar owner stepped out of the back and walked over to Roy, handing him a beer. “How are you tonight Roy?” He asked as he had done for the last five years that Roy had been coming to the Calico. With a shrug Roy drank from his beer before replying, “My boy is going off to California to train for the war.” Glancing up at the sports score on the set Roy noticed the Mets had lost to the Astros in a game score of 3 –2. “Yeah, Marty was saying that Johnny had not applied for college and he had a chance of getting caught by the draft. Don’t you worry Roy, he’ll be trained as the best, and come home when they finally decide this isn’t our war.”

“I hope you are right. I do not want to lose Johnny Dean. I’m still not over losing my wife and that was five years ago.” Roy took another long drink from his beer, “We know you ain’t Roy, we know you ain’t. Tis a had thing to do to lose a wife, we don’t expect you’ll ever be over her.”

Changing the subject Roy asked, “So where the hell has Marty been at? I’ve not seen him in here in about a month of Mondays. That pool table back there seems to get lonely with out him knocking those balls around for hours.” With a slight chuckle the bar owner shrugged, “I suppose he went and got a job over at the bowling alley. He does some maintence work for them, trying to save up money afore he goes off to college himself.” With the mention of college, both men looked away and was quiet for a moment before the door opened and Sally, the regular bar waitress came in for her evening shift.

“I hate to do this to you George, but I’m going to have to stop working at the end of this week. My husband needs me at the dinner now that some of his workers are going off to college. He’s not rehired anyone either and we only have the young girl still there.” With a sigh the George, the bar owner said, “It happens every summer Sally, I expect you’ll be back by the end of fall. I’ll put the help wanted sign up though and see if I can get another waitress until then.” Pulling out the help wanted sign he kept under the cash register George handed it to Sally. She took the sign and put it up just outside the door. It was a yearly ritual with the pair, so minor that neither of them gave a second thought to it.

After about Roy’s third beer the Monday crowd started to slowly arrive after their daily jobs.

Setting her apron on the hook near the time clock Rachael called over her shoulder to Robert, “I’m off now Bob, and Sally just left for the Calico. I’ve locked the door and counted the money out. I’ll see you tomorrow after school.” From the kitchen she heard the diner owner call out a good night before she headed out with the soldier. She walked him down the main street of town and took a left and started heading towards the lake. There was a wooden dock that she liked to sit and watch the lake from and felt that would be a good place to talk. They walked in silence and when they reached the lakefront she offered her name, “Rachael. My name is Rachael.” She said quietly breaking their silence. “Johnny Dean.” He said in return. When they reached the end of the dock Rachael sat down and swung her feet off the end. They were high enough that her feet did not touch the water below. They sat and talked for a few hours, enjoying each other’s company. Rachael learned that he had gone to school with her sister Suebeth and had just graduated high school at the beginning of summer. She shyly revealed to him that this was only to be her second year of high school. He was nice to her, telling her that she did not seem as young as she was and did not seem to be the younger sister to Suebeth. Her sister seemed to have a reputation for being slightly rebellious and outspoken.