Meet the Author

Eddie’s Eats was a worn out but prominent monument of Birkshire. Given it wasn’t a large town those few diners that pulled their weight stood out. It was Saturday with sunlight pouring from the sky with no clouds to be seen. The parking lot was half packed with familiar cars like it usually was every weekend. The smell of sausage gravy, fried potatoes, and coffee seeped out accosting any passerby with the promise of a food coma after gorging on heavy breakfast items.

Thomas came here every Saturday. Something about the well kept yet dilapidated look of the joint was comforting. The old-fashioned interior had red pleather booths and stools with no cracks, yet the linoleum tile floor was degrading. The gray-white pattern had turned sort of murky brown after years of foot traffic. The door jingled as he stepped in searching to see if his favorite booth had been taken this time. It was the third one on the right next to a large window overlooking the parking lot.

It was empty.

Thomas slid into the seat facing the way he’d come in. No one really greeted him when he’d come through. Except one, an older gentleman by the name Mr. Dawkins. Dawkins turned his attention shortly after to the server Mel who poured his coffee. She was younger, pretty, and deflected his quiet comments politely. Seemed he was still trying to win her over.

There was a low murmur of noise that filled the diner space. No one conversation was loud enough to be understood so it became low key white noise in the background. Over the speakers some country music played adding to the small town feel. A menu had already been laid down at the booth table, but Thomas didn’t need to read it.

The menu was exactly what you’d expect for a place like this. Lots of breakfast combinations that threw eggs and pancakes together with a coffee to wash it down. The difference was that Eddie was a master at making this stuff. Almost seemed like he was purely gifted to throw together simple food for the rapturous enjoyment of his customers.

He’d had the place open for as long as Thomas could remember. The guy was roughly in his mid fifties and quite jovial. He wasn’t married and liked to go out fishing in his spare time. Elsewise he was here making the town their favorite breakfasts with his small crew of servers and cooks.

Soon Mel was going to drop by and ask what he’d like to have. Last week she’d been insistent that he try the French Toast: #5 combo. Sweet breakfasts weren’t all that appealing. In the end, the #3 combo won the day. Like it always did every Saturday. The biscuits and gravy were the best damn thing on the planet.

Just inside earshot Thomas heard Dawkins fire off another typical one liner playfully poking at Mel in a lame attempt to get her interest. The guy was harmless but relentless. Mel always shrugged him off like he was a dopey teen trying to impress her at the dance. Again she just smile and moved on to other patrons before another barrage of pickup lines could be volleyed.

Thomas couldn’t see it though he suspected that there was a sense of disappointment on Dawkins face. He wasn’t sure if he felt sorry for the guy or just annoyed by his antics.

Mel really stood out here. She was blessed with long hair that she kept braided and brushed past the shoulder line. Her uniform and apron were neat and tidy: no stains. She’d smile at people in spite of being bored with running the same routines all the time. She was smaller, roughly 5’5’’, but could take up an entire room when she got going.

Thomas often thought that she had a crush on him. Which always seemed unlikely since there wasn’t a lot redeeming about his look or manner that should get her attention. At least, he didn’t think so.

She approached his booth after taking one more order at the counter that stretched out in front of the enclosed kitchen. “Hey you! You feeling better today?”

“Uh, well yeah, I’m good. Do I look sick or something?”

“No.” she smirked, “Last week you looked really bummed out. I just was making sure you were doing better.”

“Oh,” Thomas tried to think back to that day, “I was OK. No need to worry.”

This always seemed to be the point where he stumbled. She had been correct, of course; he wasn’t feeling terribly great last Saturday. Not exactly sure if things had improved by now either. For some reason it was difficult to express that he has any real feelings at all sometimes.

She nodded with a small frown, “Well OK then, what are you gonna get?”

“#3 Combo” Thomas winced.

Mel pouted.

“OK seriously, it’s my favorite.” Thomas retorted.

“So what? My favorite color is green, but if I only saw green all the time I’d want to blow my brains out. You gotta switch it up sometimes.” This was starting to become a common lecture.

Thomas chuckled a little, “I like biscuits and gravy.”

Sighing in playful disdain, “Your brain is made out gravy at this point. Do you want coffee today?” The question was rhetorical.

It was totally going to be coffee.

“Yeeeees?” He said with a sheepish expression.

Mel picked up the menu from the table and whapped his head with it. “Fine. Anything else predictable that I can get for you?”

“No.” Thomas snorted unable to contain the smile that emerged.

“Good, I can’t take it anymore. I will be back in a jiffy.” She headed back to toward the kitchen never having used the paper pad to take his order.

“OK.” Thomas said.

It was hard to not watch her as she moseyed to the coffee station behind the bar. There was a glimmer of hope that she did like him after all. Yet it was still difficult to believe. Then again, who hits a guy on the head with a muenu unless they intend to drag them home at some point? Right?

The phone in his pocket buzzed. Pulling it free it was nothing special, just a YouTube video upload notification but the trap had been sprung. Within moments he was just falling down a rabbit hole of social media posts, IMGUR posts, and weird videos about building houses out of the ground. Mel had come back with a mug, poured his coffee, and moved on. Thomas wasn’t sure if he’d said thank you before she stepped away to the next table.

What finally broke the cycle of brain slagging net surfing was a heaping plate of biscuits and gravy. The plate touched down with a heavy thud. Eggs on the side, bacon, and a pad of hashbrown with a little salt and pepper. Heaven on a plate. It likely had enough calories to stop hunger in Ethiopia for a good few days by itself. However, this was not time to be self-conscious.

The first bite of the hashbrowns was crisp and fulfilling. The textures and flavors convalesced into a comforting mental blanket. Damn this was good.

“Mr. Greene?” A man’s voice broke past fragile starchy euphoria. Thomas opened his eyes not realizing that he gone nearly spiritually deep on his potatoes.

After a slight cough, “Yes?”

Thomas saw a man who was shorter than himself wearing an open button up shirt over a t-shirt and loose fitting jeans. He was clean shaven, had glasses and styled hair that looked recently cut. Kind of chubby too.

“Do I know you?” Thomas asked.

“Not in the least. I know this will be a little disconcerting, but do you mind if I sit down?” The stranger asked.

“I do, actually. I am just getting to eating.” Thomas plunged his fork back into his meal hoping that the guy would just go away.

“I won’t be terribly long, promise. I guarantee you won’t want to miss this moment.” The man smiled a giddy smile.

“Uh… are you salesman? I’m not interested, I just want to eat.” Thomas tried to take the next bite.

“Not a salesman either.”

Thomas let the fork drop back to the plate again, “OK, well I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t want to talk to you so can you not bother me anymore?”

Disappointment crossed the strangers face, but he didn’t move, “I promise you it’s going to change everything you think you know. How about a little adventure today?”

“Listen—” Thomas was becoming irate and then something felt completely wrong. The quiet murmur of the diner was now silence. Not even the country music was playing anymore. Looking around himself the other customers were locked into position mid motion or conversation. Mel stood suspended as she poured coffee from her carafe. No burbling sounds came from the cup and the stream of the amber fluid held perfectly still.

“Wh-what the fuck..?” This couldn’t be real.

“Stay calm,” the man raised his hand in a calming gesture, “I know this is extreme, but I didn’t want to push too hard. It’s a shock to see this, I know. I just want a moment of your time. Honest.”

Everyone thinks that it would be exciting to be in a movie where things get freaky. Maybe as the hero in the film they would react cool and collected despite the situation. Thomas was in one of these kinds of situations now where world was stuck in the gears of time. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the fortitude to sit in his booth with an unblinking and chilled demeanor. Instead, he froze like everyone else with eyes wide in terror. There was a hint of embarrassment that underlined the fear as well. Even in this circumstance he couldn’t help feeling self-conscious. Stupid.

“Uuuuhhh…” Thomas droned.

The stranger snapped his fingers a couple times which seemed, weirdly, to move Thomas out of his stupor with some kind of psychic force.

“I mean… Sure. I guess.” Thomas stammered.

“Thank you.” As the man sat down the world started up again like someone hit the play button on life.

“You can eat still. I don’t want your breakfast to get cold.”

“I kinda lost my appetite.” Thomas replied.

“That’s a shame, mind if I have it then? I’m starving. I’ll pay for it.”

A short silence passed before the man pulled the plate over to himself and then he took the fork out of Thomas’ hand.

The stranger took his first bite, “Damn,” he made a throaty swallowing sound, “These hashbrowns taste amazing. Eddie does good work.”

How could this be happening? What Thomas just saw must have been some kind of mental glitch or deeply sleep deprived hallucination.

Covering his mouth with his hand to speak as he ate, “It’s not a glitch or hallucination. It’s real. So am I. You’re just trying to get used to it.”

Did he just read my thoughts? Thomas could only stare still wrestling with the terror welling in his gut.

“OK, try and relax a little.” The man gave a soothing smile. It should have been disconcerting, but again that sense of something outside himself tamped down the feeling of dread.

The words finally came forth, “How did you… how?” Thomas asked.

“That’s actually part of what I wanted to talk to you about.” The man took another bite, rolled his eyes contentedly, then continued, “Jesus, you really have it right. Those biscuits and gravy are phenomenal. I’d be pretty tempted to do this every Saturday just like you.”

This was getting weirder by the second. How’d he know that Thomas was here every weekend? “Who the Hell are you? Why are you here? How are you doing all this?” The rapid fire questions exploded forth without much tact or patience.

After a sigh, “I’m the Author, if that makes any sense. You’re a part of a vast and complex world that I have created. This means I have control over everything you see around you. Even you if I choose. In this particular instance I just want to talk to you. I think I am looking to be surprised in this case. However, that’s not the only reason I’m here.”

Thomas squinted and pinched his nose not really sure what to believe. The possibilities were becoming insane and mostly terrifying. There wasn’t much he could do about it.

“Like what, you’re God or something?”

“Oh shit,” the man chortled, “no, not at all. He’s got a whole different set a rules. And who knows if He’s even a He or anything for that matter. I’m a cosmic being in your case. Though that’s not entirely on target. Think of me as deeply interested party with great potency. I am here because of your potential and hoping to explore that with you.”

“Why?” This didn’t make any sense. Thomas could barely get out of bed in the morning without needing to be jump started with a car battery. He didn’t even have a job. What could possibly be so damn interesting about him?

The Author raised an eyebrow as these thoughts circulated, “That’s what, right there is the problem.” The Author smiled and pointed to Thomas’ head.

“What?” Thomas asked.

“That, your mindset is all screwed up. You think you’re worthless. But I know better.”

Mel approached the table eyeing the new comer and seemed a bit perplexed, “I didn’t know you’d be expecting someone,” she said to Thomas before she addressed to the Author, “Did you have a chance to look at the menu?”

Smiling with some enthusiasm the Author leafed his fingers together on the table, “Oh yes! I would love a cup of coffee with some cream to go with it, I’ll also be taking the check for this man here. He’s been quite courteous.”

“OK! Coming right up.” Mel moved to fetch the coffee and left Thomas wondering if he should have just bolted or told Mel this situation wasn’t as easy going as it may have looked.

“Nice girl. Mel. She’s really into you. Don’t let her slip through your fingers and for God’s sake stop doubting yourself so much.”

“Uh… I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t want to sound super rude, but are you going to get to a point soon? Or are you just here to eat my breakfast and then pay for it?”

“I don’t mind paying for it, I have everything I need here. I’m not here to tell you what to ask or what to say though. That’s my point. I want you to dive into your curiosity a little. At least that’s what I am hoping for. This isn’t a therapy session or anything either. Although I do think that you need a little pick-me-up.”

“So you’d rather I ask the questions than just giving me some sort of life advice or something?” Thomas was surprised that he sounded so incredulous.

A faintly exasperated expression followed the Author’s words, “OK, I think I just gave you three pieces of advice on life already. Weren’t you paying attention? And if I just wanted to shove my all powerful opinions down your throat then this will be a very boring conversation. Thomas,” a short pause hung in the air to add emphasis, “let’s cut to the quick. You m’lad have something to offer. You don’t know it, but you do. And more than that I get to sit here in front of you confirming this without a shadow of a doubt. Are you going to fumble about for the rest of this talk trying to go in circles some more? I just literally stopped all time right in front of you and the best you can do is be slightly snippy with me?” More biscuits and gravy went down the hatch as the Author waited for an answer.

Mel set down the coffee and creamer. The Author thanked her kindly with a smile then turned his attention back to Thomas expectantly.

“Uh… what do I have to offer? Exactly.”

A smile appeared on the man’s face, “There we go. Not so hard was it? I suppose it’s just the possibilities right now, but don’t be thinking that it isn’t important. The excitement is in the not knowing then the seeking to know. It’s the whole game. It’s the entire reason all of you are here in fact. In your case, you get to pick what you want to chase and then you’d better damn well chase the shit out of it.”

“You didn’t answer me.” Thomas stated a bit flustered.

“Sure I did. I have to be careful with what I say. You see, if I just said, ‘You’re going to be a banker and love it, you’ll have 9 kids with that girl over there,” he indicated Mel, “then die of a heart attack at 72 surrounded by your grandchildren at a Christmas dinner,’ you’d be liable to go crazy trying to make that happen. Or maybe blow your own brains out trying to stop it all together depending on your preference of possible futures. You’re sitting there, feeling small and insignificant in the face of a being who can just twist your reality into knots. If I was a huge prick and decided for you what your potential was, you’d be dead instantly because how are you to contend with information from such an immutable source? You’re not Thomas anymore if I choose for you. You’re just a puppet that does what that weird asshole ‘who ate my breakfast’ tells you to do.”

Honestly, it was the first time Thomas had thought of anything like that. There was a good chance that if this person just told him his future he’d likely spend all his time trying to get out of it or get into it. Something felt seriously wrong with that.

“Thank you.” Thomas found himself saying.

“You’re welcome.” Another bite of gravy soaked hashbrowns accented the statement. Thomas watched feeling his gut rumble again for food. Maybe another #3 combo was a good idea. Hell, this dude was paying for it anyway.

“May I?” Thomas asked.

“Oh be my guest! On me.” The Author encouraged.

Mel happened by right at that moment which was eerie. “Can I get you anything else?” She asked.

“I’d like another #3 combo.”

Mel snorted. “OK,” She chuckled, “But you shouldn’t just feed everybody that walks in here with that stuff.”

As Mel walked to the kitchen the Author smiled, “Why don’t you get the French Toast next week?”

Thomas screwed up his face. “Like, is it your entire mission to get me to go on a date?”

“Well… it’d be nice if you could just do something nice for yourself for once.” It sounded sincere enough. It made Thomas consider some things for a moment.

“So, do you just have everyone’s life in your head. Is it just running in there all the time?” Thomas may have been trying to divert the conversation a little. Mel was a girl that he’d thought about asking on a date before, but it didn’t seem possible. It felt weird to have this guy acting like a match maker.

“I have what I need when I need it actually. If I was able to track everyone’s waking thoughts and histories as persistent parts of a universe that’s always on, it’d be a royal mess in here.” He pointed this head then took a slurp of coffee to wash down the biscuit he’d been eating.

“OK… Then I think I have a question I’ve already asked, but I don’t think I understand your answer.”

“Shoot.” The Author smirked.

“Why me, specifically? Why’d you choose now, this moment, to talk to me?”

The man sat back in the booth chewing and taking a moment before speaking. “Because you asked me to. Before all this stuff. You asked me to meet you here, at this restaurant, this day, this time. It was before you were Thomas as you think of yourself right now, as it were.”

“What?” Thomas wasn’t sure he could comprehend this crap.

“Thomas, you’re not really this creature that sits before me. This is just one avenue of a single instance of the many incredible things you have been or will be.”

There was something in the Author’s voice that really piqued Thomas’ interest. Something he’d not heard another person really offer him since maybe early childhood.

“What do you mean. Like… How is that possible?” Thomas couldn’t help but feel something like excitement and fear mixed together. Curiosity was bubbling up dramatically as it became clear that this really was a once a hundred lifetime opportunity to learn something no one else knew.

“You see, you are something else. You’re just playing the role of a musician who has mildly disappointed parents. The feelings you experience are legit but honestly this life you lead is just a steppingstone to the next best thing. Even if you have to go through several Hells to get there, you’ll get there. So, before you were this,” the Author then gestured at Thomas, “you were something else. A raw essence but not an unconscious essence. You wanted to play a game. Thus, you became what you are now. You chose the details, who your parents were, who you wanted to be, and how you wanted to play the game. Then you asked me to show up and help you along the way. You’re the only one that wanted that really.”

“So… wait, hold on. I chose to be fucking miserable all the time?” The sound of his voice was reaching higher decibels of stress apparently. Some of the people in the diner stopped talking to listen in. Thomas took a deep breath for a moment before repeating the question. “I chose to suck at life like this on purpose?”

“I wouldn’t use that exact terminology, but yes, you chose to have a difficult start. I wasn’t so sure that was a great thing, but you insisted.”

“Why would I do that?” Thomas asked flabbergasted.

The man laughed, “I honestly don’t know. I try to avoid suffering for myself. Yet, you were the one that made sure that this is what you dealt with before we met. I was glad that you didn’t choose something more harsh.”

“Aren’t you all powerful? Wouldn’t you just slap me around to tell me that it was a dumb idea then set the stage for whatever the Hell you wanted?”

The Author sipped his coffee the looked at Thomas carefully, “Remember, if I just tell you who you are, you die. You don’t get to be what you want that way. How could I do that to you?” Genuine empathy was in the Author’s tone. Like he spoke to someone who really mattered to him. It had this weight of sincerity that was astonishing.

It stumped Thomas. Why would he choose to have disapproving parents, to be alone most of his life, jobless, and then to just wind up as a ghost of someone who wanted to be a musician? Isn’t it worth having people who love you instead? Wouldn’t it be better to just have that and to live a great life? It didn’t make any sense.

“Why would I do that to myself.” Thomas asked.

“You said, ‘I want an experience.’ I took it to mean that you wanted to understand the contrast of some things. That you needed to see what it could feel like to have something profound in the face of something dark or miserable.”

Thomas let that sink in a little bit.

“You wanted to know something. And the exciting thing is, I have no idea if you’ll learn what that is or not. I’m also rooting for you. I want you to figure it out. To learn whatever it is you came here to learn. As I said, you’ll be moving to another life before you know it and who knows who you’ll be by then.” This was said in a matter of fact sort of way. A hard immovable truth.

“Have I been other people before?”

“Yes!” The Author bounced in the seat a little bit with blatant excitement. “You have! And I was hoping you’d ask that.”

The second plate of food arrived with Mel eyeballing the man who seemed quite childish all of a sudden. She looked at Thomas with a smile that vaguely disguised look of concern on her face. Likely she thought that he was a nut job. Thomas just shrugged and thanked her for the breakfast and went back to the conversation.

“Who then? Was I?”

“So many people, things, and animals. So many. Whatever was needed. And often you volunteered.”

Something dark struck Thomas sharply, “Like… even bad guys?”

There was a short pause before the Author responded. “Yes. Yes, even a villain. Or two.” Thomas could see that he was being carefully watched by his guest. Oddly it didn’t feel uncomfortable. It was becoming obvious now that the Author was honestly concerned for his wellbeing.

Then it made sense. That feeling he had earlier. It was something that was missing in his life. Someone who actually cared. Not a surface level of care. Deep abiding care that comes from good parents maybe, or from a friend who’d do anything for you. Maybe all of that put together. In the back of his mind there seemed to be a need he’d forgotten about till just now.

The man smiled then waved a hand in front of Thomas’ face. “Are you still in there?”

“I was just thinking.”

“Were you? Seemed like maybe you were coming into that sudden realization that you were looking for.”

“You can hear what I am thinking, right?” Thomas heard his tone soften like he was now speaking to an elder or someone he respected. It almost felt like a piece of his own childhood was emerging. As though he were talking with his father who’d been out of the picture all his life and then suddenly showed up. Only without the deep pitted resentment that normally came with it. This was so strange.

The Author nodded, “I can, yeah, but I don’t like to impose. Goes back to ‘it can’t be a fun conversation’ if I am just reading all your moves then answering everything at the same time. You’re a unique individual Thomas. I gotta let that shine.”

“Why would I ask to be a villain. I wouldn’t ever want to hurt anyone.” It was a question that burned intensely when he asked. Who would ever ask to play a person who’d want to hurt or terrorize another human being? Who’d choose that? What kind of a psycho would want that?

“Sometimes, you just need to know what it’s like. It’s a hole in your soul that you can’t ignore. That vacant space is just that: vacant. And when you can’t discern what that space is for, you jump into it hoping to understand it. The thing is, understanding comes at a cost. Sometimes it’s extremely painful. The beauty of your situation is that you found something that a lot of other people couldn’t. A means of self-forgiveness. Also, a way to know pain so that you could feel the way you do now. A little sick and mortified that you would ever do something to hurt someone else. Now you know what that really means. You can’t remember the details, but your soul, the deep part of the real you never forgot it and is making sure to keep your feet on the right road.” The other took a moment then added, “Maybe you wanted to punish yourself a little still.”

Thomas’ insides twisted up a bit. He knew that what was being said was true. That at some point he had played the part of something terrible. The Author, maybe God, maybe something beyond those ideas was sitting right here in front of him and giving him uncorrupted truth. He knew it, beyond all reason, he knew it.

“Hey, hey, don’t start to hate yourself now. Those things you’ve gone through are in the past. Not only that, the people you think you’ve injured have learned some things. They found their way to forgiving you too. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone does this. Literally. You’re a bright light among all others. Just like stars in the sky. That has never changed.”

The plate of food that Thomas ordered was still sitting in front of him warm and steaming but didn’t seem that appetizing anymore. This was going to be a long day.

“Listen. When I leave. You’ll be hungry again. Trust me. And then you’ll do something that’ll surprise the Hell out of you. I think, maybe then, you’ll know what you need to know.” The author took the last bite of the biscuit he’d been eating and chewed it lovingly.

“What about everyone else here?” Thomas asked.

“They’ll be fine. It’s not like you’re dropping a bomb in here or something.” The Author pushed his emptied plate to the center of the table.

“No, I mean what about all of them.” Thomas moved his hand at the other occupants of the diner, “Were they… someone else too?”

“Oh of course, you wouldn’t believe it now, but Mr. Adam Dawkins there was a little girl in a world that had real magic. Happened that she was quite the brave little thing. I suppose that he… she… Well Mr. Dawkins is now playing a different role. Probably as hard if not harder than yours. Being the lonely horny old guy in background of another man’s story is a difficult role for anyone.”

“Seriously? He’s a perv though. Like, wouldn’t he’d be less—” Thomas wasn’t able to get past the image of Dawkins in a dress which abruptly slammed into his minds eye. The Author snorted from across the table signifying that he was catching the same disturbing psychic media.

Thomas tried again, “I mean, wouldn’t he be less pervy having been a girl at some point? Like his soul or whatever you said before trying to keep him on the right road.”

“Here’s something that you’ll have to get used to. There’s what happens and then there’s what the soul experiences. Those two things together never really produce exactly what you might expect. Who knows, maybe that experience just made him the perv he is now. Can’t go judging the book by the cover because you think you have the whole thing figured out. There’s always something deeper. Even in the worst things you have ever seen or heard about.”

Mel came by again with her best how ya doin’ mask on, “Is everything going OK? How’s the food.” She gave the Author a courteous nod.

“It was absolutely lovely. Thank you.” He replied.

“Anymore coffee for you?” She asked him.

“No thank you. I am about finished here.”

“OK, then I will bring back a check, no rush.” She moved to get the ticket at the register.

The Author turned to Thomas after she left, “So, this is the thing that maybe you need to understand. What you don’t know about the people around you is likely everything. And what you think you know about everyone is likely completely nothing. All you can do is put one foot in front of the other, trust that you’re not going to do something deliberately that would make things worse, and then see how it all turns out. If you fuck up, then just correct your course, and do your best to not make the same mistake twice. This is the glory of being human. It’s nothing to sneeze at.”

Thomas was thinking hard and fast trying to put things together. It felt weird. This whole conversation. It still didn’t compute that he’d been the one to be able to speak with this being. Let alone that they were friends, or whatever, before this all happened. It just made the world around him feel strange. Like it wasn’t real anymore and yet totally and completely concrete. Unshakable.

The Author was wiping his face with a napkin. He was about to leave.

“Wait, you’re just gonna leave now?” A small part of Thomas was hoping that the man would stay just a little longer.

“Would that make it easier if I snapped my fingers and disappear like a bad film edit?” The Author asked.

Thomas raised an eyebrow. “I mean, you did stop time.”

“I’d thought about doing something like that. But honestly, you’ve been exposed to some pretty outrageous otherworldly shit already today. I think I can tone it down a little.”

“Is ‘Author’ really your name?” Thomas asked abruptly.

“No. It’s not. That’s something that I keep for myself. Besides, giving you my name is gonna do nothing except make you wonder harder about things you’re not going to need on this particular trip.” He stood up brushing off the front of his shirt and then smiled.

“Damn good breakfast.” The Author held out his hand for a shake. “Mr. Greene, it was a pleasure talking with you.”

“Same, I think.” Thomas shook the Author’s hand a bit gingerly half expecting a bolt of lightning to erupt from where their palms made contact that would blow up his head.

“Ha! That’s an image. Haha! You take care of yourself from now on. Don’t let me catch you being all mopey without good reason. OH!” Author withdrew several hundreds from his wallet. “There that should cover it. I’ll see you around, bud.” He clapped Thomas’ shoulder before turning to the front door.

Then he just walked out of the diner and turned right up the street going out of sight.

“Who was that guy?” Mel’s voice broke through the haze of disorientation that Thomas had been swimming in. She held the ticket in her hand still.

“I have no idea…” Thomas scratched his head.

“Pfft. What? He was sitting here like your best friend for close to 20 minutes or more.”

Thomas nodded weakly acknowledging that he felt that way about him. He was a friend, but Thomas couldn’t explain why. “Yeah. He never gave me his real name though.”

“Well, seems he paid the tab at least.” Mel whistled picking up the small stack of money on the table.

“Yeah, he did. Uh… Mel?” Thomas needed to see if this would work.

Mel looked at him catching a note of something in his voice that normally wasn’t there.

“I am super hungry right now, but is there a chance you’re gonna be on break any time soon? I don’t want to eat by myself.” Thomas kept gentle eye contact with Mel when he asked this.

She caught it, the real question inside the inquiry. It was, will you go out with me? She didn’t run off or sprint away or even scream. She just kind of blushed a little bit.

Holy shit, he actually asked her.

“Yeah, I will take break right now.” Mel was glowing, “Let me tell Eddie really quick.”

“Might want to tell Mr. Dawkins too. Let him down easy though.” Thomas spoke in a smarmy whisper regarding Dawkins. In a way, he did feel something like empathy for the guy after all.

Mel genuinely laughed. The sound was beautiful and enlightening. Maybe it was possible for Thomas to hear that all the time if he played his cards right.

He’d just have to put one foot in front of the other. Who knew if this was gonna work out in the end? That wasn’t the real issue though. The real crime was not trying at all.

It was silly that it took the presence of a cosmic being to get that point across.

Thomas sipped his coffee which had become lukewarm and wondered about what could happen next with a dopey smile on his face.