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           MinnieorSusyorMae,middle-agingbehindthecounter,haircurledandrougeandpowderonasweatingface.Takingordersinasoftlowvoice,callingthemtothecookwithascreechlikeapeacock.Moppingthecounterwithcircularstrokes,polishingthebigshiningcoffeeurns.ThecookisJoeorCarlorAl,hotinawhitecoatandapron,beadysweatonwhiteforehead,belowthewhitecook’scap;moody,rarelyspeaking,lookingupforamomentateachnewentry.Wipingthegriddle,slappingdownthehamburger.HerepeatsMae’sordersgently,scrapesthegriddle,wipesitdownwithburlap.Moodyandsilent.

           Maeisthecontact,smiling,irritated,neartooutbreak;smilingwhilehereyeslookonpast—unlessfortruckdrivers.There’sthebackboneofthejoint.Wherethetrucksstop,that’swherethecustomerscome.Can’tfooltruckdrivers,theyknow.Theybringthecustomer.Theyknow.Give’emastalecupacoffeean’they’reoffthejoint.Treat’emrightan’theycomeback.Maereallysmileswithallhermightattruckdrivers.Shebridlesalittle,fixesherbackhairsothatherbreastswillliftwithherraisedarms,passesthetimeofdayandindicatesgreatthings,greattimes,greatjokes.Alneverspeaks.Heisnocontact.Sometimeshesmilesalittleatajoke,butheneverlaughs.SometimeshelooksupatthevivaciousnessinMae’svoice,andthenhescrapesthegriddlewithaspatula,scrapesthegreaseintoanirontrougharoundtheplate.Hepressesdownahissinghamburgerwithhisspatula.