Old Man B’s pacer rattled a bit on the interstate, but his time on Interstate 29 was coming to a close as the Canton exit was only a mile away. Mabel hadn’t spoken since they went past Tea. “Mabel, are you ready to do what I said?”
“I don’t know B. I’ve never been good at acting.”
“For pete’s sake, it’s not acting. Just act concerned. Look concerned. If you can’t do it, just be borderline catatonic. I know how to talk to these railroad types.”
“How did you get so knowledgeable about railroad types?” She was now looking right at him, and ignoring the passing fields to her right.
“Well, unauthorized rail travel used to be a hobby of mine. I’ve been to 49 states, Canada and Mexico thanks to the rails.”
“You were a…a hobo?”
“Hobo? No no no. I just didn’t know where I wanted to live, and I liked to travel but didn’t have any money. It was a lot easier back in the old days. It got harder, so I bought this car so I wouldn’t have to ride the rails anymore.”
“Did you…I mean, how did you…”
“I took odd jobs here and there. I spent a few years up north, and then Texas. Winding up in Sioux Falls was a total accident.”
“Why B, I always thought you were from around here.”
“Heh. Thanks I think? I grew up in New York.”
“The city or the state?”
“The state, mostly. I spent some time in the city, but not much. That’s the past. The future is Hawaii.”
“Hawaii?”
“One can’t ride rails to Hawaii. It’s the last state to cross off my list.” B flipped on the blinker and started pulling to the right. “Well, let’s go over our plan again.”
***
Phil’s eyes closed as he chewed the pancakes. They weren’t his pancakes, but they were still good pancakes. “Not bad, not bad. How’s your…burger?” Phil looked over to Bob’s plate, where the burger was untouched. Bob was nibbling on a french fry. His eyes were darting from Phil to his tray to other parts of the restaurant. “Bob, are you okay?”
“Fine fine. I’m just…nervous. I have a bad feeling about the hotel. Maybe we shouldn’t go back.”
“I think you’re just being paranoid. You should eat your burger. Who knows when we’ll eat this good again?”
Bob looked down at his burger. He took a bite, and the taste of the bacon cheeseburger took his mind off things for a second. The second was short as Abbie walked up to Michelle’s table. He heard Abbie ask Michelle for her order.
“So, ivghth bnnn thnkin aboot wot we shood do nxt” Bob forced out while chewing his burger.
Phil cocked his eyebrow up and set down his fork. “Dude, that’s disgusting. Try swallowing before you talk once in a while, or maybe chewing more. Whatever you’re saying it can’t be that important.”
Bob took a deep breath and swallowed to speak again, only to feel a sudden pain in his throat, and a worrysome lack of air reaching his lungs.
