More than a Memory

Chapter 3: Finding Answers

He awoke a few hours later to the sun beating on the side of his face from the windshield. He yawned and stretched, the blanket falling onto the floor. He slowly sat up, his back protesting with his sleeping arrangement. Hopefully he would only be sleeping like that another night or two and he would have answers about his father and clouded past.

He slowly got out of the back of the truck, still stretching. As he walked around to the other side of the truck that was parked in some weeds, he took his flannel off, leaving him in a dark green M*A*S*H shirt. He walked a few feet away from the truck so he was hidden from the road and peed, scratching his belly with one hand. As he tucked himself back in and walked back to the car, he looked up at the sky, guessing it was around 10 or 11 in the morning. When he got back into the front seat, he confirmed the time that it was a little after 10 am. He started the car back up, seeing that his phone was in need of a charge. He plugged the phone charger into the cigarette lighter after using the lighter for a smoke. Then he turned his music back on, "I Will Wait" by Mumford & Sons coming on. He rolled his windows down and pulled out of the weeds, flinging dirt and dust as he drove down the dirt road. He looked at the GPS to see he had a little over two hours to get to the salvage yard and his heart fluttered in his chest.

He found another diner as he passed down the main street of Sioux Falls. He decided it would be best to eat again so he wouldn't seem rude if the people at the yard did or didn't offer him food. Pulling into the parking lot around 12:30, it was quite crowded for a Sunday afternoon. Though, in a small town like this, people were probably just getting out of church and this was the only good place to eat. He finished off his current cigarette and then flipped the mirror down to fix his hair. Ya never know when ya could meet someone worth taking home.

As he walked into the diner, his dark brown, faded cowboy boots almost being heard clicking on the tile floor, a few people turned and looked at him. He just shrugged the gazes off and walked over to a free seat at the counter. He lazily picked up a menu and order some black coffee and a glass of water with lemon. After a few minutes, he put the menu down and ordered some eggs, over easy with toast and sausage. When the waitress brought his food back, he took notice to the girl and smiled. She had golden hair that glistened with the little bit of natural light coming into the diner. Her eyes were a crystal shade of blue that was offset by the heavy eyeliner she wore. Her cheeks had a natural rosy hue to them. Even though her eyes seemed to be heavy with hurt, he smile was genuine as she set his plate down. Her eyes lingered on his face a little longer and she almost looked confused.

"I know I ain't from 'round here, but I still thought sayin' thank you was the right thing to sa," he said with a bit of a laugh, trying to figure out her expression change.

She shook her head and her smile was replaced as she said in a deeper tone than he expected, "No, it is. Ya just remind me of someone."

He took a piece of toast and dipped it into the egg, casually shrugging, "Oh yeah? That's odd since I'm from Michigan."

"Just passin' through?" she asked, leaning on the counter. She was wearing a a dark grey shirt what hugged her round breasts. He could tell she was muscular herself, the short sleeves pulled tight over her arms. Around her neck she had a a silver chain with a pair of angel wings that hung down right between her breasts. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and she wore a black apron around her slim waist.

"Ya could say that," he said, pulling his eyes away from her chest and back up to her face. "But if stayin' means I get to see more of you." He finished with a smile. The girl, who looked to be about his age, maybe a year or two older, looked back at him and returned his smile.

She shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Who knows. I get off in a few hours and I ain't got nothin' to do tonight."

Ben smiled and watched her as she turned around and went back to work. He sat and ate in silence, feeling less nervous about the day. He found himself watching her from time to time and she would smile at him.