JUST  FOUR  FOR  CHRISTMAS

It was four thirty in the afternoon – just off Route 80 - which stretches across the U S A - from the George Washington Bridge and Teaneck N.J.  to downtown  San Francisco, California.

It was near Omaha, Nebraska – Christmas afternoon – and Jack got out of his 18-wheeler truck and headed into the main dining room – actually the only dining room - in one of his favorite truck stops – along Route 80 – U S A.

Coming out of the bathroom  - he headed for an empty table in the corner. It had a great view of the whole place – the front door –  the salad bar – and the  big counter – with its spinning red vinyl stainless steel counter stools.

Empty:  the place was practically empty. Hey!  It was Christmas afternoon – 4:30 PM – what would you expect?

This wasn’t a Chinese Restaurant – which are known to be always open on Christmas afternoons.

A waitress – reading the paper – jumped up. She came over – and said, “Merry Christmas darling. What are you doing on the road on a Christmas afternoon?”

“You won’t believe it, but I’m delivering a truckful of dynamite to Northern Colorado. -  I’m Jack.  And you, Sweetheart, what are you doing working Christmas afternoon?”

“Oh, we’re Slovak.  We had our big Christmas dinner last night. I’m working because I can use the extra money. Right now, I got 3 kids in college. And my old man had a stroke.”

“Oh….”

“Ooops I didn’t tell you my name.  I’m Cathy – with a C – as you can see on my name tag. The turkey and ham Christmas Dinner Special is what you want, Jack.”

“Okay.”

The front door – double doors – opened and in came Frank – wearing  a neat red leather Kansas City Chiefs football  jacket.

Cathy the waitress on her way to the kitchen for Jack’s ham and turkey dinner asks this new customer. “You …. Are you all alone for Christmas dinner?”

“Yep, howja know?”

“Waitresses notice everything fellow” as she gave him a wink. Then she added, “The guy in the corner is all alone too – and it’s Christmas afternoon. Go for it.  In fact, I’ll introduce you.”

“Oops …. I’m Frank. Hi.”

Cathy walked Frank over to Jack. “Jack, this is  Frank. Frank, this is Jack.  Merry Christmas.”

Frank shook hands with Jack.

Cathy said, “I can  get you a menu - but the ham and turkey Christmas Dinner Special - is fresh and excellent.”

“Okay, mam. Okay. I’ll take the ham and turkey dinner as long as it has mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.  I’m starving.”

Both Frank and Jack got talking and they spotted another guy all by himself at the end of the long dining room counter.

“Pst! Cathy,” Jack signaled to her – the only waitress he could spot  in the whole place.

She came over.

Jack asked her if the guy at the end of the counter is by himself.

“He is.”

“Well, could you also invite him to join us at our table. It’s Christmas and nobody should be eating alone.”

Cathy worked her magic and now it was three for Christmas dinner.

Just then – it was a slow afternoon – especially being Christmas – in came one more stranger.

Cathy worked her magic again and now it was four for Christmas dinner: Fred, Frank, Jack and Duke.

Cathy looked over a couple of minutes later and noticed all four were talking - full speed ahead – 65 miles per hour.

She heard Fred say, “Wow this is great. I was really feeling down – figuring I’d be eating all alone on Christmas Day.”

While filling up their coffee cups – coffee cups can be very tiny in some truck stops  – but  maybe as one waitress said, “It’s smart. Better tips. Hotter coffee. More visits." 

It was then that Cathy heard Duke say, “Take a look at my kids.”

Out came his wallet – and down fell about 10 photos of his kids in a clear plastic wallet insert – unfolding as they fell.

She thought, “He’s done this before. Younger people would have their pictures on their cell phones; some older people - like this guy - still have their photos in their wallets.”

The meals still weren’t there yet – but for the next cup of coffee, she heard one of the four say,   “My wife dumped me about 5 years ago – and it’s tough being without my kids – especially at Christmas.”

When she brought the meals, this time she heard Frank ask, “Any of you Catholic or Christian? “

Duke says, “I’m Catholic, but haven’t been to church for years.”

“Okay” said Fred, “Me too, but I’m sure we all know the Our Father.”

Cathy, Slovak Cathy, liked that.

She had seen lots of people pray before meals at the truck stop dining room – but this was extra special on a Christmas afternoon.  She paused and joined them in their prayer.

From time to time when Cathy – Cathy with a C – went over to see if they needed anything – she noticed they were laughing, talking, happy. And she felt wonderful that she had ushered them together for their Christmas Mass – ooops Christmas meal.

“Great turkey. Great ham. Great meal.  Great mashed potatoes. Great cranberry sauce. Great recommendation Cathy – Cathy with a C.”

Then when clearing their plates and bringing them apply pie – pie a lo mode – vanilla ice cream – Cathy noticed they were consoling Duke  who was crying.

Crying …. Yes crying….

“Do you have a phone number?” asked Jack.

“I have Penny’s, my youngest daughter’s number – but I haven’t talked to her in at least 6 years.”

Frank said, “What’s the number?  I’ll try it.”

Out came Duke’s wallet  again  …. And out came a piece of worn paper. Duke unfolded it carefully – something he had done many times – but he never called.

Nervous – shaking a bit -  he read off Penny’s number – which Frank wrote down.

“207” – Frank asked, “where’s that area code?”

Duke answered, “Lewiston,  Maine – but I don’t know if she’s home and if that number is still good.”

Frank called the 207 number on his phone for Duke.

All four had become silent – including Cathy - who had stopped to see and hear what was happening.

“Is this Penny?” asked Frank.

Someone had answered.

“Don’t hang up. Merry Christmas.  This is Frank. You don’t know me. We’re here with your dad in Omaha, Nebraska - just off Route 80 - and he – we – all of us – Jack, Fred, Duke - your dad -  and Cathy the waitress -  want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.”

Silence.

All eyes.

All anticipation – like kids at the tree on Christmas morning.

Frank then said, “Penny, here’s your dad” and he handed Duke his phone.

Penny said, “Dad, Dad, Dad …. I miss you.  But hold on.  Right now I’m saying ‘Goodbye’ to my in-laws.  Can you call me back in 10 minutes?”

Duke said crying, “Penny, Penny, can you make that 15 minutes? I also  gotta say ‘Goodbye’ to these 4 people I’m with – as well.”

Now there were tears – different degrees of tears – in the eyes of all 5: Duke, Jack, Fred. Frank and Cathy.

Fred said, “It’s Christmas and before we leave we gotta sing ‘Joy to the World, the Lord has Come’ and ‘Silent Night’ before we all go off into the night.”

The cook, the dish washer, and a few other people in the truck stop restaurant were stopped and sort of stunned to hear  Christmas carols coming from a corner in the restaurant.

Time was ticking – but they got the cook – to take a lot of pictures of the four – and ones with Cathy – on their cell phone  cameras. 

They also wrote down each other’s cell phone numbers.

All gave each other good big hugs and it was off to Route 80 east and west – except for Duke – who went back to the table in the corner – and they could hear him on his phone saying as they were leaving, “Penny, this is dad, again. Merry Christmas. Can we talk?”