Flash fiction.

Just in case you are not familiar with the term. Flash fiction is a complete piece of fiction in just a few hundred words. It is stripped to the bone fiction. So it's like this one...


@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

The interstate highway directed most of the traffic away from the old diner. It was still on a US highway but the traffic was mostly local.

I guess that is why the motorcycle pulling into the parking lot got noticed. It couldn't have been the rider, because people were looking out the diner's windows before the rider removed the blacked out helmet to reveal long blonde hair.

With the pitted face, the rider could still have been either sex. It was when she removed the leather jacket upon entering the diner that there was no doubt left in anyone's mind. She walked right up and took a seat at the counter.

"What can I get for you?" the owner asked.

"How about a menu?" she asked.

"That's it," the owner said pointing to a white board with a half dozen items hand written on it. There were two soups and four sandwiches from which to choose.

"It's a good thing I like potato soup," she said.

"Yep," the older man agreed.

"How about the potato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich?" she asked.

"That's a good choice. They are a little better here than when you were in school." the old man suggested.

The blond just smiled. While she waited for her food she looked around. There wasn't much to see. The place was almost empty, as it was most of the day. The cafe did a little business at lunch and a little at dinner otherwise it was empty. The owner was the only employee so he pretty much opened when he felt like it.

They came into the cafe making as much noise as they possibly could, the blond though. There were four of them. Young men just out of their teenaged years. All four worked at the chicken processing plant just across town.

"How about some service they said from the booth."

"You know there ain't no booth service Johnny Wayne," the slightly past middle aged owner said.

"Hell Pop, Looks to me like you got yourself a waitress."

"If I was you kid, I would shut up before your big mouth overloads your skinny ass." The old man he called pop said.

"You pull that bat out and I'm gonna make you eat it old man." The younger men were showing off for the stranger. Pop knew it, but it didn't matter what their motive was, they were showing their collective asses in his place.

"Well if you can do that Johnny, you will be the first one who could. Now son it's time for you and your friends to leave."

"Why don't you ask the bitch if she wants us to go?"

"Cause it ain't her place it's mine. Now move on before you get hurt."

The four of them stood up and moved toward the counter menacingly. They were moving toward the woman, not Pop. The blond was no kid and she kept her eye on them. When they got close, she came off the counter stool like a coil spring being released.

She head butted Johnny Wayne under the chin. There was the sound of bone crushing. His eyes rolled back in his head and then he fell like a tree. The other three tried to circle her but pop hit one on the shoulder with the bat. he found himself on the floor screaming in pain. The blonde hit a second one hard in the diaphram. His breath was gone instantly and he fell trying to get his breathing to start again. The last one tried to run but the woman grabbed his shirt. She delivered a chopping blow to his face. Blood spurted from his nose leaving a splatter on the floor.

The blonde took a deep breath then said, "Guess I better go before the cops get here? What do I owe you."

"Go if you want but I think you would get a citizen of the year award if you stay. As for the bill hold on." Pop reached into Johnny Wayne's pocket. He removed his wallet and took all the bills. "That pretty much covers it."

"I like the way you think," the blonde said. "You gonna be in trouble for the bat thing?"

"Are you kidding? These guys got whooped by a pretty young blond and an old man, you think they are gonna press charges, so the whole country knows about that?"

"I guess not. If you ever get to Camp Lejeune look me up. Just ask for the meanest blonde bitch gunny on base. I expect everyone will know who you mean."