Page 29 of A Future To Remember

“Oh, yeah?”

She nodded. “We never sell more than a few extra salads or desserts, but tonight, we sold out of all the pies, and I noticed extra dinner salads added to almost every check.”

“Upselling,” I said matter-of-factly.

“Up what?”

I wiped my brow and shifted on my feet again. My ribs just ached. “Upselling. You don’t do that here?”

“Honey, I don’t even know what that is!”

I laughed. “It’s when you talk your customers into getting a little bit extra than just the main course. You gotta make it sound delicious, and usually they’ll go for it.”

Wanda apprised me, shaking her head. “I know you don’t know where you came from, hon, but as long as you want a job working here, you got it.”

“Thank you, Wanda. I really appreciate that. Is there anything else you need me to do?”

She shook her head. “Naw. Come on with me, and I’ll take you up to your room. It ain’t much, but it’s a roof over your head.”

I followed behind her as she led the way through a door off the hallway where the restrooms and her office were located. Beyond the door was a short hallway leading to the back door and a set of stairs. We climbed them and went through another door into a large, open loft–type space, with windows that faced the back and left side of the diner.

The room had wood flooring, along with several space heaters, none of which were turned on.

Brick walls painted bright white enclosed the space, almost giving it an art-gallery appearance, ruined by the fact that no paintings or pictures adorned the walls and in the center of the large room—oddly placed—was a lumpy, black-and-white checkered sofa that’d definitely seen better days.

Across the room in the far corner was a queen-size bed with a rolled-up yellow blanket and a matching sheet set, resting on top of a thin mattress, with a deflated-looking pillow.

The opposite corner held a card table with a microwave. And that was about it.

“It’s perfect,” I said, swallowing my disappointment. I’d hoped for a little more, like a lamp. Some dishware. A place to store clothes. Maybe a book to read. At least, thanks to Cash, I had a firmer pillow than the defeated-looking thing currently on the bed.

“In there’s the bathroom,” Wanda said, pointing to the door just behind the entrance. I realized then that the bathroom was right above the ladies’ restroom downstairs. “It’s not much. Just a sink, toilet, and small shower, but it all works.”

“Awesome.”

“I’ll leave the door to the diner open so you can get yourself something to eat on Mondays.”

“Mondays?”

“We’re closed.”

“Ah. Thanks, that’d be great.”

Wanda looked around the space, her eyes perhaps seeking the same thing I was. A reason to like it.

“Is there a library in town?” I asked.

Wanda brightened. “There is. It’s on Delaware Street.” Pointing to indicate the street in front of the diner, she continued, “Take Main Street two blocks down, then make a left and follow that to the stop sign. Turn left again, and it’s right there. It looks like an old schoolhouse.”

“Awesome,” I repeated. At least I’d have access to some books to read.

“You’ll need some form of ID to get a library card, and since we don’t know who you are, get the sheriff to vouch for you with Esther, and she’ll give you a card.”

“Esther’s the librarian?”

Wanda nodded, then clapped her hands like the business of showing me around was finished. “I better get back to closing up. I saw you came here today with a couple of bags and a pillow. Where’d you leave your things?”

“Downstairs under the counter.”