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 downtownSan 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 – wearinga neat red leather Kansas City Chiefs
footballjacket.
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 spotin 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 Dukewho 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 hearChristmas 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 phonecameras.
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?”
