as the warrior walked into the room...

Tired from a long day of driving, and a lot of it into the sun, I decided it was time to get some dinner. I'd ordered one too many meals to one too many hotel rooms, so I decided to eat out somewhere, but I wanted something that was easy. I had more work to do once I got to the hotel, and didn't want dinner to require any work on my part, or much time which would push my evening free time even further out.

 

I noticed the diner across the street, hidden by other businesses, but still managing to have a packed parking lot. That told me everything I needed to know.

 

After parking the van, I pushed my way in through the front door. If there was a record playing, the needle would have scratched clear out off the grooves and across the entire surface of the LP. While some folks tried to go about their conversations, multiple faces swivelled, stared, looked away briefly when they made eye contact with me, but almost immediately went back to staring at me when I looked away.

 

The southern drawls where thick in the place. A cowboy in a leather vest, the hat of his profession, and boots pushed his way past me with 'the lil missus' and they just sat themselves.

 

I stood for eternally long moments feeling like the proverbial sore thumb.
..

 

Funniest thing about this post is that it's exactly what just happened.