After I finished filling the RV at this second rate truck stop not far from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, I parked it between an 18-wheeler and a fancy RV. Then I gave my two dogs a quick chance to take care of their business before walking inside.
I was tired and near to starving. Fuck, the only food they had was a Timmies. Now I love Horton’s coffee and doughnuts, but their real food isn’t great. What I wanted was a drink and a steak. The sleepy looking cashier pointed out a roadhouse across the highway.
The second I stepped in, I instantly recognized her voice but not the song. I was just happy to have something other than old rock or modern crap playing on their jukebox. I loved country and western and that voice was one of my favourites.
I sat at the bar and ordered a Glenlivet, the only single malt scotch that a place like this was likely to have. He poured me a double, neat. I ordered a ribeye medium rare, turned and sat at a table. Only then did I look around.
Holy crap on a crutch! It wasn’t a jukebox. She was on a small stage, singing. I waited for my ribeye, staring at her. She was even better looking than most of her photos.
As she finished a fourth song, dinner arrived. I must have caught her eye as she walked off the stage. She came directly to my table and motioned to the bar tender for a drink. He was over in a heartbeat. She said, “Jack, double neat.”
I finally got my tongue working and said, “Please join me.” She said thanks and sat down across from me. Our knees touched. I felt a spark. She left them touching.
She said, “You were listening intently, so I guessed you might be a fan, and I figured you were less likely than some of the male bums in her to try and make a move on me while I eat.”
” I looked at her and said, “Don’t bet on that.”
She laughed, a real laugh not a phony giggle, and said, “Don’t you bet that I’d turn you down. I dig your hat.”
The bartender returned with her drink and asked if she wanted something to eat. “Sure do. How about pork chops and eggs. Can you do that?"
He just said, "Yes, ma’am" and walked away. Our knees were now rubbing together, and she’d started that motion.
For the first time I used her name, “********, what the fuck are you doing here?”
She replied, “Just passing through and my driver needed a nap. Saw this place and figured I’d try out a few new songs I’m toying with. Had a gig in Winnipeg, now 2 nights in Toronto and then Buffalo. You seemed like the only one here who might have a sensible honest opinion.”
“Well I loved your first two albums. I only heard the last four you did here. I loved the first and third that I heard. Really thought the second one was wrong for you, and the last one is okay but not quite my taste.”