the empty road - 34. the usual

by bofa xesjum

part thirty-four of forty

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pete poole was getting mighty sick and tired of these characters filling up the countryside in their trucks and campers. calling themselves wandering righters of wrongs and getting themselves in the way of real officially authorized lawmen like pete. that fellow who just hurried out of pete's favorite kentucky fried chicken place - was he one of them? at first glance he had not aroused pete's suspicions, but on second thought he just might be - blueberry pie, eh, was that all he wanted?, pete asked the little girl behind the counter. that was all he said he wanted, the girl replied, i couldn't read his mind. this was the afternoon girl, she was not very friendly, not to pete anyway. pete much preferred the morning girl, gloria jean, who always wore a smile. well then, i guess i will just have my usual, pete said. the girl handed him a paper bag which she had ready. it contained three legs and two breasts and a roll. you want coffee with that? the girl asked pete. sometimes pete had coffee, sometimes he did not. like most people, he had his routine. no coffee this afternoon, pete smiled. the girl did not smile. but she never did. unfriendly little cuss. pete left. determined. next