whenever i get sleepy at wheel, I always stop for coffee. this time, I was driving along in western Texas and i got sleepy. I saw a sign that said GAS EAT, so i pulled off the road. It was long after mindnight. I expected a place like most of the rest-where the coffee tastes like copper and the flies never sleep. What I found was something else. The tables were painted and clean. They looked as if nobody ever spilled ketchupon them. The counter was spick-and-span. Even the smell was okay. Really.
The man behind the counter was the only person in the diner. I judged him to be about forty years old. I sat down at the counter and ordered coffe and apple pie. Right away he got me feeling sad. I have a habit/ I divide people up into two group-winnersand losers. This guy behind the counter belonged to the group of people who mean well ; they can’t do enough for you. But their eyes have this gentle, faraway look, and they can’t win. You know ? With their clean shirts and their little bow ties ? It makes you sad just to look at them. But take my advice : Don’t feel too sad.
He brought the coffee steaming hot, and it smelled like real coffee. « Care for cream and sugar ? » he asked.
I said, « Please . » The coffe was the best I had tasted for months. The pie was good too. A car pulled up outside. The man glanced out to see if the people wanted gas, but they didn’t. The two men came right in. The tall one said, « Two coffees. Do you have a road map that we could look at ? »
« I think so, » the man behind the counter said. He got their coffee first and then started looking through a pile of paper by telephone, trying to find a map. It was easy to see he was the type who would go out of his way to help you. He was always pleased to be of service . I’m the same type myself, if you want to know. I watched him hunting for a map, and i felt like i was looking in a mirror. After a minute or two, he came up with one. « This one’s a