the empty road - 24. the thought

by bofa xesjum

part twenty-four of forty

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gone. men gone. allie felt relieved. was she being silly? she did not think so. but what difference did it make? just as long as she felt better. slow day today, becky said, interrupting allie’s thoughts. allie agreed, starting on another train of unhappy thoughts. if business continued slow, might she actually be laid off? or the store closed - but how could it, it was mcdonalds! thinking about the two scary men was not as depressing as that. allie had been afraid of men all her life, since she could remember. she did not understand how other girls and women were not - could not be. men were like lions and tigers - they could start growling and pounce at any time. boys - even little boys - were almost as bad and it was just a matter of time. what are you thinking about? becky suddenly asked allie with a laugh, sometines i worry about you. nothing, allie answered, almost hating becky when she said things like that, though she knew becky meant well. becky was very old, and had been married twice, one less time than allie's own mother, connie, had been. two customers came in - two women, one real old, one not so old, mother and daughter? - mercifully interrupting the conversation. next