Gone but not Forgotten (POW: ONE)

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."

Thomas Jefferson

Gone but not Forgotten (498 words)

"Oh honey, look! The old Stone Way Café closed and the assets are being auctioned off next Saturday. Let's go take one last look for old time's sake." Ted shoved the newspaper over to Jaqui's side of the table, then pulled his wife to her feet and gently drew her toward the door.

"Oh all right! Can you postpone long enough for me to get my coat?"

They pulled up in front of the little woebegone abandoned café a few minutes later and got out to squint through dusty windows. Ted beckoned to Jaqui, "Look! There's the old red leather cushioned seat where I used to sit all alone with my pad and pen, drinking one cup of coffe after another. The white aproned waitresses whirled through here like cyclones on a mission and they didn't take baloney from anyone!"

Jaqui mentioned a crayoned picture of honeydew melon above the menu board, and then turned to look at the counter, "Wow! That sure speaks to a bygone era! I wonder how much money they want for that old telephone."

Ted pointed excitedly, "I'll never forget the morning someone phoned Seattle Symphony conductor Gerard Schwartz on that payphone (before cell phones). He anxiously turned to the crowded tables and made an impassioned plea in his booming baritone for a percussionist! The one playing xylophone and lithophone for the opera "Antigone" had a gallstone attack overnight and was in the hospital for nonelective surgery. One guy raised his hand to say he played trombone, one claimed saxaphone and another admitted to the Sousaphone and then everyone burst into laughter."

Jaqui peered through the glass door, "What a cute luncheonette! What did they serve here?" she questioned.

Ted zoned out for a second and then reminisced, "They were only open from 7 to 2 so it was breakfast all day and then soup and sandwich combos at lunchtime. I spooned up their soups with abandon! Monday was saffroned abalone chowder. Tuesday they served split pea with hambone. Wednesday they made minestrone that was seasoned so well it makes my mouth water to think about. Thursday was chili with cornpone. Friday the soup was a Greek lemoned egg with rice. It was so good it had to be rationed. On Saturdays they only served breakfast. Honestly, they made the lightest French toast with just a sprinkle of confectioner's sugar, great blueberry scones, and the honeybuns were to die for. They were just the right doneness; light, flakey. Since they were closed Sundays, they always provisioned me with sandwiches before I left on Saturday afternoons."

She summoned him to look through a little window looking into the kitchen. "I'll bet the cooks felt imprisoned back here with just one little barred opening."

Ted sighed, "It's too bad this place is headed for the boneyard. I had a lot of good times here. Thanks for walking into my past with me. Come on! Let's go find a new café for the two of us."

© Susan K. Barton 2007

This was written for the Play on Words Challenge. The word to be included this week (Week 4 of Fall) is "ONE" See playonwords.gather.com/ for further information. Join the group to join in the fun.

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