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 Nothing by Night's Passage



   Something on Your Mind

   The coffee sloshed about in the cup, almost spilling over the side.  The
heat turned liquid into steam, turned air into pressure, turned dry into
wet, and fogged up his glasses.  For a moment, he was blind to the world,
then the fog cleared, and there she was.

   ``This is goodbye, and you should stop denying it.''

   She'd already crumpled up inside, only the paper mask was left to look
him in the eye.

   ``Maybe we should just take some time off to decide.''

   ``We'll both need time to adjust, and we'll be doing that separately,
and we won't be getting back together.  Like I said, this is goodbye.''

   Her hand began to reach across the counter-top, then gave up, or maybe
it just decided that it needed the support of the table.

   Hard reality.

   ``So.''

   ``So.''

   He tossed some money onto the table and got up from the booth.  In the
window he saw his reflection, and adjusted his shirt.

   Turning to the door, he said ``Goodbye.''





   No Matter How Hot You Make It

   He settled the cup in its saucer, and reached for the spoon to stir in
the cream. ``They never give you a spoon for that,'' he thought.  ``You
always end up having to use a dinner spoon in these places, and then you
end up eating the oatmeal with a coffee spoon.''

   She rested an elbow on the table, upsetting the coffee a bit.  He
watched it slosh back and forth.

   ``I've been thinking about today,'' she said.

   ``Me too.  I think we should definitely go by the cleaners before
getting the oil changed. Maybe we could rent a movie tonight and hang out
on the couch?  Or go to the bar and play pool.''

   She rester her other elbow on the table, leaning in a bit more.

   ``I've been thinking that today is our last day together.  Should be. 
Is.  Will be our last day together.''

   ``Whazza?  My trip's not until next month.'' Confusion.

   ``I know.  What I'm saying is that I'm breaking up with you.  We're
over. Things are done.''

   ``I didn't know you were unhappy.'' More confusion.

   ``No, you didn't.  I don't want to get into it.  This is goodbye. 
That's what I have to say. You can say goodbye if you want before I leave,
but I'm going now out that door.''

   ``We came in the same car, though.''

   ``Goodbye, Daniel.''

   The only thing he could think was ``she didn't look sad.''





   Great Expectations

   The cup slipped out of his hands, parting porcelain from refreshment,
and dignity from her dress.

   ``Fuck.  I knew I shouldn't have worn this t-shirt.''

   ``Look on the bright side,'' he smiled ''if there were a wet t-shirt
contest, you'd be in good running.''

   She looked up from her and his blotting.

   ``Get your hands off me.'' She growled.

   Puzzled, he pulled away his hand, folding the napkin again before using
it as a poor sop for the coffee.  Large pools of coffee were forming on the
cheap plastic veneer of the greasy spoon's table.  Beading around the base
of plates and glasses.  His sunglasses.

   ``What is it?  What's wrong?''

   ``My fucking shirt is what's fucking wrong, you asshole.''

   ``It's just a t-shirt, Jess.  The stain will come out, and if it doesn't
we'll get another one. We got that one yesterday.''

   This did not seem to mollify her.  In fact, she was pulling in her chin
like she did when she was very angry.

   ``You think you can just buy your way out of this?  Is that it?  You do
all these favors for me, but what does it matter what I think?  Hunh?  You
talk down to me and you think I don't know.''

   Confusion on his part let way to anger.

   ``What the hell is this, wild accusation day?  Why don't you blame me
for canceling Christmas while you're at it!  I do not try to buy my way out
of things.  If you weren't so damned dense you'd be able to see that, you
idiot twit.''

   She slapped him, bringing tears to his eyes.

   ``Why don't you just go, Danny.  Just go.  I'll take care of myself like
I always have, and you can be as smart as you want to be off in your own
little world.'' She spit the words.  ``I mean it.'' She did.  ``Go!''

   He did, tossing his napkin back onto the table as he left.





   Things Are Never Quite the Same

   The waitress filled his coffee cup, and left, wiping a hand on her red
apron.

   ``Hey Danny?'' she asked.

   He stirred cream into the coffee.  ``Hmm?''

   ``What's on your mind?''

   She shrugged her shoulders, adjusting her t-shirt.

   ``Nothing much.  Just thinking about you.''
   She smiled, ``you're so sweet.''