Destined - Episode 2

Novella Thursdays

‘Mornin’, Harry. Ain’t seen you around in a few days. You been cheatin’ on us with that new place down the street?’

‘Naw, Shirley, your hotcakes still the hottest in town. And the pancakes ain’t that bad either.’ All seated at the All-American diner’s bar chuckled as Shirley filled coffee cups. ‘The usual then?’

‘Yep. The ol’ wife just finally let me out of my cage, that’s all.’

‘Probably more like forgot to lock it back.’ This sent another round of laughter between the locals, the kind of rapport they shared with their favorite waitress a staple in many diners throughout the American heartland. A sense of belonging that many folks treasured. But for the customer seated at the end of the counter, he couldn’t have felt more lost.

Jimmy had spent the previous day walking the streets of Minneapolis. The city’s famed Metrodome was the first location he had sought out, but the whole area had been taped off, his arrival coinciding with the implosion of its domed roof. It was then on to the continuous flow of water at Minnehaha Falls Park, along with skywalks, sidewalks and byways, the feeling that his beloved had stood on these very spots just hours before leaving him with a sickened feeling. Was he destined to live this torment of always just being a few hours behind her? Of being so close yet so far?

He would search every face that crossed his path. Would hold his breath with the approach of every female that might be her. But what he found was always the same. Nothing but strangers. No celestial attraction. No return of the completion he felt when they were together spiritually.

Or at least that’s how he thought of it. That the dreams were a result of a spiritual connection, their two energies finding a way to come together until they could physically do so.

Once again defeated by time, Jimmy couldn’t help but picture himself as Harry’s age. Continuing his life-long search decade after decade until he was forced to retire, at which time he would have to come up with a new way of crisscrossing the country, one shaky footstep at a time until the day would finally come that time would ware him out.

Perhaps his end would come in an All-American diner like this one, slumped over in a booth and entering one last dream after having set a world record for miles most travelled. He might have felt caged, but at least ol’ Harry had a mate. Where was Jimmy’s, besides being in the inner space of his being?