The striking kid sat down in the last booth. The sun shined brightly, outside the streaky diner windows.

"What's up with that guy?"

"Yea...no... I don't know. He sat himself."

Bertulf stared out the giant window. Big as sunshine was, he owned it. Or so it appeared.

"Are you going to tell her? That's her table."

"Shit no. Does he have a menu yet?"

"Does it look like he can read one?"

The two laughed. The wicked sound bounced around within the confines of the messy dive then faded like the drapes.

"You're such a smart ass girly. OK I'm goin' in. If I'm not back..." She coughed up another sick laugh, it sounded like a two pack-a-day one and grabbed a pre poured water, already warm in its dull plastic glass.

The salt n' pepper magpie picked up a sticky menu and tossed it at her cherry cola cohort as she turned to fetch their third wheel. The door to the kitchen was less than a yard from their grimmy service station.

"What cha' bet he only wants coffee." The candy-apple haired waitress saundered over to the sunny side of the greesy spoon.

"Grace you got a live one, table 6." She pushed the kitchen door halfway open and yelled, " If that's what cha' call em now-a-days." Under her breath.

"Could you give him a menu Charity?" A sweet voice replied from somewhere in the back. "I'll be right there."

"What do I look like your servent?" The ill named waitress mumbled. Her saccharine reply, "Sure thing E," was lost in the swing of the heavy kitchen door. She had taken to calling the younger staff by single letters. Her own code, only Cherry was privy to it.

"Your waitress will be right with ya." Cherry slapped down the oversized menu on the table with the force of a flyswatter.

The young man jumped not expecting the assult. He had been to preoccupied with his cell to notice her approach.

"Missed him." She laughed again.

"Huh, oh. Missed who?" The texter quizzed.

Cherry was already gone.

"Scared another one."She coughed at Charity. "Jumped a mile." Her smile might have been pretty if it wasn't for the two stained teeth on the bottom.That and the grooved lines around it gave away her two pack-a-day habit. She reached up for her jar.

"Break already?"

"Naw, thought I reapply." She produced her favorite LipSmackers, Bite Me and smothered her lips. "He's kind of cute." She intentionlly pursed them and made a loud smooch towards table 6. Then tightening her bra strap, she squeezed her girls together and pulled the tight black sweater down, exposing just a little more cleavage.

"Been a while huh?"

"Ya...at least twenty four hours." She did her best Mae West imitation. They burst into another laughing fit.

"What's so funny girls?" Grace appeared through the swinging door all fresh for her shift. She was balancing a large tray of clean Homer Laughlin mugs. "Jimmy says we're out of blueberries and that's the last banana."

"Nothing E." Charity sneered."Table 6. He's already got his..."

"Banana!" Cherry blurted out. Again the two cracked up.

"You two are awful..." She reached for the coffee pot, "I can handle this if you two could put away these mugs, please."

The young worker smoothed her apron and snatched a mug from Cherry's hand, before hurring over to her waiting customer at table 6.

"Ya think she'd take the pot with her?" Charity noted.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting Sir, did the other waitress get your drink order?" She set down the mug.

"Oh no problem... Grace." He gleaned her namebadge on his way up past her chest to her bright blue eyes. He reached for her hand and felt the softness of her skin.

She instinctively pulled away. His hand hot, shocked her.

"I'll have that coffee, black, please." His amber eyes smiled back at her.

Graced blushed at her reaction to his touch. "Oh sure Sir, I'll be right back with it."

She could feel his stare from behind.

"How's the last banana?" Cherry made an obscene gesture and headed out to gather the salt and pepper shakers. Jimmy was still to cheap to get disposables and it gave her an excuse to cruise the dining room.

"Oh Cherry." She stopped herself from finishing with, You are so crass. She had to admit he was cute even if unshaven. Grace had never had a serious relationship. She felt it was due to her overactive lifestyle. She had quite a full pate now that she was in Grad school. Still...

Coffee, black. She grabbed the glass caraft and glanced into the mirror above the desserts. Something she'd seen her coworkers do a hundred times before, but this time, her glance was different. She bit her bottom lip and removed her glasses.

Grace was tired but it gave her a disheveled sexiness. Her full black hair bounced as she rounded the corner of the waitress station.

Table 6's eyes hadden't left her behind. She smiled and falsely hurried over with the coffee. She poured the hot joe into his mug from three feet above it, then asked,"Are you ready to order, Sir?"

"Please. I'll have the banana pancakes with granola and yogurt, Grace." His dirty smile said it all.

"Is there anything else I can get for you, Sir?" She played the innocent.

"Yes, Grace, I'd like it if you'd call me Bertulf. Instead of Sir." He teased adding, "for now anyways."

She smiled at his courage. "Bertulf," she said, "Bright wolf. Fine. Let me get your order in, you've got the last banana." She giggled and turned. I've got him. She said to herself feeling his gaze on the way to the kitchen.