Berta Franklin was the only customer at the Bozeman Café. She stopped in for a Pepsi and to gossip, “I just can’t believe it, Hazel and Herbert are closing down their drug store and moving to Millersburg next week. Herbert said he only had two customers last week, and none so far this week.”
“You want another one?” Cindy asked from across the counter.
“Might as well.” Berta said pulling a Pall Mall from her handbag.
Cindy popped the bottle-cap off and handed her another cold Pepsi, “You know, Nigel and Mad-Dog-Mable are also headin’ outta town.”
“What the hell…what’s Mable runnin’ for, the damn spooks and goblins are afraid of her nasty ass,” Berta chuckled as she lit up.
Cindy grinned, “Nigel said no business, so he’s gonna open a barber shop in Millersburg.”
“So how long can you hold out?” Berta’s tone became more serious.
“Well, Gerald thinks we should get out and go see what we can find in Millersburg. No one is gonna buy this place, that’s for dang sure. Just have to eat the loss and start over I guess. I’ll sure miss this place. Been a lot of good times here.” Cindy just looked off, as if in a daze of remembrance.
“Well, if that don’t beat all, I guess I should go have a talk with Sam about the Market. You just know those Millersburg folks are gonna start showin’ up over here sooner or later, looting all the empty homes and businesses. Hell, half the police force is dead, and the other half are makin’ plans to skedaddle, like all the rest. Only Chief Miller and Buddy are still down at the station, I hear tell.” Berta said heading out.
“Say hi to Sam for me.” Cindy gave a little wave.
“You got it sweetie.”
A few minutes later, the door swung open and the little bells at the top rang out. Making his way over to his usual spot, “So, what were you hens clucking about?” Buddy grinned.
Cindy studied his face, “You were waitin’ outside till Berta left, ain’t that right?” Now she grinned.
“What…no, I don’t know what you’re talkin’ bout,” his grin disappeared, “I just came for a cup of your delicious coffee.”
“Yeah,” she said reaching for a cup and saucer, “Berta said to tell you, Sam says hi.”
Buddy’s face flushed a little, “Please don’t start that Cindy, I’ve taken a lot of crap over that. I just want to move on.”
She poured his coffee, “Okay then, how long you plan on stayin’ around this dyin’ town?”
“I been over to Millersburg lookin’ for work, nothing at the police department, so, looks like whatever I can land, will hafta do for now, I reckon,” he blew and then took a sip, “Still make the best damn coffee for miles around, yes indeedy.”
“Whoever said, ‘change is always for the better’ didn’t live in Saint Cloud, that’s for dang sure,” she said shooing a fly away from her face.
“So very true.” Buddy said as the annoying fly now buzzed around his head.