Jude had been watching the streetlights go by and was wondering what Mark was like, or if Mark was Mary’s boyfriend, or what, and then, there they were. The white Camaro pulled into a broken-up blacktop parking lot in front of a small fluorescent-lit burger place, with big windows. It was painted red and white with a sign above the door – Kelly’s – it read.

“This is Kelly’s. It’s like the mom and pops burger place in town.”
“Sounds good,” said Jude, feeling the emptiness in his stomach.

They got out of the car and walked towards the front door. Jude saw someone behind the counter in a red apron. Must be Mark, he thought. He reached for the door and the bells hanging on the other side of it jangled as he opened it for Mary. “Thanks,” she said, in a surprised voice, as though not many people opened doors for her.

“Hey Mark.”
“What’s up.”
“This is Jude, his truck broke down just outside of town and he’s on his way to Portland.”
“Oh man, I’m sorry,” said Mark with genuine compassion. He reached out his hand to shake Jude’s and Jude returned the shake.
“I saw it coming, it did this to me last night too,” said Jude.
“That sucks.”

“Yeah,” said Jude as he reached his hand up and started messing with his hair. He did that when he was nervous or uncomfortable, and Jude was always overly self-conscious in the presence of more than one new person.

“Hey Mark,” said Mary, “I was telling Jude he could probably stay with you. Like crash on your couch or something?”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Are you sure?” Jude interrupted, “Cause I don’t want to be a hassle, I mean, I can just roll out my sleeping bag in the truck bed, or whatever.” Something else Jude habitually did, used the phrase, “…or whatever.”
“No way man. You’re welcome to my couch as long as you need it.”
“Wow. Okay, thanks a lot,” said Jude gratefully.

“See? Told you he wouldn’t mind,” said Mary with that smile again. “You want some food? On the house?”
“Sure, thanks.”
“I got it,” said Mark. “You wanna get the tables for me Mary? I’ll hit the kitchen; the mopping and bathrooms are all done.”
“K,” said Mary, reaching around the counter for a washcloth and a bucket full of bleach-water. “You can take a seat Jude, Mark’ll have some food out in a sec.”

“I feel bad,” said Jude watching Mary wiping down tables. “At least let me help you clean the tables, earn my keep around here.” “Okay,” Mary said laughing. “Here,” and she underhanded a damp washcloth across the restaurant at Jude. He caught it and began wiping the salt and crumbs and soft drink stains off the tables and rearranging the napkin dispensers and salt-and-pepper shakers.

Jude heard Mark’s voice from somewhere back in the kitchen, “You want cheese on your burger Jude?” “Um, yeah sure, thanks,” Jude called back.

“I’ve heard Portland’s really pretty,” said Mary, as she looked up from the shine of a clean, wet table.
“Yeah, the last time I was there was when I was like seven or eight or something, so I don’t remember much, just that everything was really green, and it rained like the whole time.”
“I wish I could get out of here. I graduated a year ago and I feel like the only loser who hasn’t moved on with life. Still working at Kelly’s, cleaning tables.”
“I wouldn’t feel so bad, it’s been a year for me too and I’m just now leaving. Probably won’t even be able to start classes for another year or so, just so I can save up enough money.”

Mary moved to another table. “Yeah money’s my problem too. My mom wants to help me but my step-dad…” And her eyes glazed over as she looked down at her reflection on the shiny table top. “Sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes and laughing out of embarrassment. Jude didn’t know how to respond. He felt like he wanted to show his concern but he didn’t know how. Jude wasn’t very good at showing the way he felt, unless he was depressed, he wore that like a badge.
“He’s been a jerk tonight. That’s why I was out driving when I saw you. Guess there’s a reason for everything huh?” she said as she looked up from the table. “Yeah, I guess so,” said Jude, reluctantly, not believing it himself. Though Mary’s smile made a convincing case.

“So, what’s there to do around here?” Jude asked, changing the subject before it turned on him. “Well, there’s the lake, there’s a one-screen movie theater in old downtown, aaaand,” she looked up at the ceiling, “that’s about it,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“Weren’t you going fishing tomorrow afternoon Mark?” Mary yelled over her shoulder. “Yeah,” said Mark, a lot closer than Mary had thought. They all three laughed. “You’re more than welcome to come if you want,” he said to Jude, setting down a cheeseburger and fries basket on the table he’d been wiping down. “I mean, if you have to wait on your truck or anything.” “Okay, cool,” Jude said looking down at his food. “Hey thanks again Mark.” “No problem.” Mark headed back into the kitchen.