It is unusually slow at Red’s Diner this evening (for a Thursday), which is a welcomed change Daphne associates with the rather dreary weather; typically, that can go either way. Often time, more people will come out if it’s rainy, and they don’t feel like cooking, but today, the opposite seems to be true-- people are staying inside. Though, that’s not usually these days around Wade. After all, no one wants to be caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time, like poor Josie. Perhaps people are staying away from Red’s as well because of the rumors swirling about her death. Does anyone want to dine at a cannibal’s restaurant?
People will still come, though. If there’s anything Daphne’s learned, it’s that nothing can keep people away from this place. It’s like some kind of religion, especially to the old men who come, and spend hours chatting at the counter. If they miss a day here, you know there’s something seriously wrong.
Perhaps it’s a good thing that the diner is almost empty, because Red is throwing a fit in the back of the house. Even with the jukebox steadily spewing worn-out tunes, you can hear the owner, and proprietor of the place spewing obscenities. It seems two of his cooks have called out today, leaving him back there trying to take their place. Though, this isn’t the only instance of anger on Red’s part that Daphne’s witness since Josie’s passing. It’s genuinely worrisome. The old man’s not in the best of shape, and all that pressure on his heart? It’ll surely send him to an early grave.
Maybe that’s what he wants.
“Fuck!” It rings through the entire restaurant, and Daphne’s sure Red’s gone, and burnt himself or something. She nearly flinches at the sound of it, but tries to regain her composure in short order.
Looking back down at the other, she offers them a reassuring smile, but it’s surely not much of a comfort to them. “Sorry, what’d ya’ say?”
