Nathan's Clan of Deadheads by Paul Atreides

Author:Paul Atreides [Atreides, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Paranormal, Ghost, fantasy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2017-12-17T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Nathan watched Tina go through her morning routine. The line of customers stretched around the corner of the building, a few deadheads pushed through the storefront and nodded at him. He nodded in return. “Mornin’.”

“I wouldn’t sit there if I were you. When she opens that door,” the woman nodded at Tina, “you’ll have someone sitting in your lap in seconds.”

“Thank you, ma’am. It did appear a might busy the other day. I’ll keep a watch.”

Like the phantoms they were, they lined up and drained the pot. Nathan imagined what that would look like to the live folks who peered through the windows: The carafe flickering out of sight, reappearing on the warmer a bit emptier, disappearing again—longer that time—to show up with barely a hint of amber liquid in the bottom.

“That pot better fill back up as quick as it emptied,” Tina warned from her spot in the middle of the small diner. She pointed at the coffee machine as her hand, filled with napkins and silverware, poised over a table.

Tommy laughed as he burst through the wall greeting the deadheads who had made the place their regular haunt. “My, she sure is feisty today. Morning, Betty. Hey, how are you today, Dixon.”

A chorus of greetings came back to him, Nathan’s among them. “Mornin’, Tommy. I could might lend you a hand if you need it. Compared to feeding a bunch of hungry, grimy miners back in the day, this would be a pony ride at the county fair. All’s you have to do is tell me what you need and point.”

“Oh, hey, dude. I didn’t see you over there. Nah, you sit and relax. Mike will be here in a few minutes. Though, you might want to take care when Tina opens up. The customers sure move in fast.”

“So she said.” Nathan hoisted his cup in the direction of Betty. “Where’s Marvin? Isn’t he coming along?”

Tommy scurried from table to table, dipping into the pocket of the apron he’d put on to fill the jelly trays and pack holders with sweeteners. “He’s what’s holding up Mike this morning. But, I’m sure they’ll be here. As soon as Marvin finishes the rant he’s on.” Tommy shook his head. “That dude really needs to get a grip.”

“What seems to be troubling him?”

“Oh, he hasn’t seen Jenna in days. He went to the park this morning before the sun even spit to check on her. She wasn’t there, and hasn’t been home. Freaks him out, you know?”

“Well, now, when I left yesterday morning, she’d been hailed off somewhere by a woman in a might bit of a panic.”

“Oh, man, that’s going to burn his bagels.” Tommy finished his duties as Tina headed over and unlocked the doors. “Here come the hoards. Dude, I don’t mean to be rude, but we’ll have to save the chit-chat for later.”

“There’s nothin’ rude about being straight-forward. Ya’ll get on with your day. I’ll try to stop on by later, then.” Nathan passed his cup into Tommy’s outstretched hand, and gave a tip of his non-existent hat.

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