The real estate agent turned off onto Route 7. "Don't get out to these parts much. No one comes through this part of town since they opened the new interstate. You sure you want a business way out here?"
"It's all I can afford."
He switched on his left turn signal and slowed to wait for the opposing traffic to clear. "Suit yourself." He pulled into the badly rutted parking lot and stopped in front of small, run-down diner with the green and white "available" sign in the window.
Howard looked around. There was a counter with four chairs, a small cooking area, a pantry, and a set of restrooms on the side of the building. There was also plenty of dust.
"Perfect. I've always wanted my own restaurant."
"If you want it ... I'll get the lease out of my car," the real estate agent said.
In a few days the dust was gone. The stove worked. The water was hooked up. There was still peeling paint on the walls and a few roaches had evaded the Black Flag he'd been spraying everywhere. He put the "open" sign in the window and turned on the grill. It was time for business. The health inspection could wait a few days.
At about two in the afternoon a pickup pulled in the lot. It had tools and pipes hanging from racks on the side. There was a sign for some plumbing company on the door. A man in greasy overalls sauntered out of the vehicle and entered. He plopped himself down on the stool nearest the door. "So you're the schmuck took over this dump."
"Yep," Howard replied. "Want anything?"
"I'll try one of your cheeseburgers. And a Coke. You got Coke? Don't want no Pepsi."
Howard popped open a red can and slid it down the red and white counter. It came to a halt right in front of the customer.
"What the hell'd idea was it to come out here?" the guy asked.
"People need a place to go. Sort of an event." He tossed a burger patty on the grill and got out the package of buns the bakery guy had given him.
"Chips come with it or you can get fries if you want."
"Chips. People driving out ... to here?"
"Place needs a little work. Something to draw 'em out here," Howard explained.
"Like what?"
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