[Freezair]

Barely gettin' by, all take and no givin'...

Patrick though it was pretty ironic hearing that song over the radio now, given that it was well after 5. Sure, the diner's menu of songs was limited enough that he heard most of the playlist in a single day, but that one always hit hardest when he worked nights. Just like Miss Parton, it didn't seem like he was getting much respect either. Tips always seemed to dry up late at night like this--people stumbled into the diner tired and grumpy, with no patience for even the friendliest smile.



Sassy appeared around the corner redoing the tie on her apron. "Heads up, Pat," she said. "A tour bus just pulled up into the parking lot. We gotta flood coming."

[Freezair]

Sometimes the late evening rush was the worst, but Patrick knew he had hours left before he clocked out. At least he'd be keeping busy... and if the group all sat together, there'd be a required gratuity.

"Batten down the hatches, then," Patrick said. "You want to greet them up front while I get a bunch of tables cleared?"

"Affirmative," Sassy replied. She hurried to the front of the diner while Patrick swept off to hurriedly load up a bunch of used plates into an empty cart and wipe down a table.

[Freezair]

Sassy hurried to the front of the diner just as the first door squeaked open. The fellow who came inside looked decidedly official. He had on a nametag, and his casual vest and shirt looked the most like a uniform. His hat was the biggest giveaway--it bore an embroidered logo reading "FUN AND FANCY FREE EXCURSIONS."

"Oh, thank goodness," he said when he saw Sassy smiling and ready to serve. "We were almost worried you weren't open. We broke down several hours ago and are WAY behind our schedule. We were supposed to make it to our hotel long ago, but everyone was so tired and hungry--"

"Say no more," Sassy said. She hollered behind her, "How's it comin' Patty-Cake?"

[Freezair]

There was a pile of dirty dishes in the kitchen, but Patrick had managed to clear and wipe off enough tables to fit what he estimated was a bus's worth of hungry travelers.

"All clear here, Sassy," he said.

"I can't promise you'll all be seated together, but I can promise we'll seat you all as promptly as possible," Sassy said. "Now, roughly how many of you are there?"

"Oh, thank you. You're a lifesaver," the man said. "Forty-two of us. Twenty-nine adults, nine adolescents, three kids under twelve, and one baby."

"Three kids' menus and a high chair," Sassy repeated. "HEY PATTY! YOU CATCH ALL THAT?"

"Sure did," he replied.

[Freezair]

The man left the restaurant and Patrick took a moment to brace himself. He took a moment to wipe down the tables one last not-meticulous-enough time.

Then the people started pouring in.

It was like someone had stomped on a tube of toothpaste. People broke through, many of them families. The family of five with the baby was near the front--and thankfully, the tiny Rengosett clung to her mother's fur while fast asleep. The teenager, in anthropomorphic form, chatted with his ten-year-old sister while she clung to his shoulder in animal form. The parents, both anthropomorphic, looked as if they hadn't slept well in at least a day. And more of Evelon's multitudes rushed in behind--full humans, anthropomorphics, and animals alike, all talking together and all looking haggard.