Route 58

 He pulled up to the Silver Streak Diner as he had done for countless years. Located alone on Route 58, it served as an oasis for weary and hungry travelers. He recalled the day he towed it to its resting place: a forty-foot-long Airstream he had purchased from an old-timer who hadn't used it enough to justify keeping it. For the next two years, he gutted it and transformed it into a comfortable spot to grab a bite to eat. Over the following four decades, the diner became well known for its stacks of flapjacks and strong coffee, served by Blanch, who in her prime was a stunning redhead with legs that seemed to reach the sky. He married her, and together they have run the diner to this day.

When Blanch passed away, he lost a part of himself and couldn't even consider replacing her. So, he hung the "Closed" sign in the window along with a "For Sale" sign mounted on a post outside. He packed a few belongings into a box, including her name tag and apron, which still carried the scent of her perfume; a hand-painted plaque that read, "A good day begins with a smile"; and dozens of pictures taken with her and the travelers who caught her fancy.

It didn’t take long to sell the diner—just one week. A couple from a neighboring county wanted to start a new chapter in their lives. As it turned out, they shared that her parents had frequented the diner when it first opened and pointed out a Polaroid picture of them with Blanch, along with many others who had stopped by over the years.

They kept the diner looking the same, with the exception of a jukebox they added and a fresh coat of paint to cover years of grease stains and cigarette-smoked ceilings. Like him and Blanch, the man did the cooking while his wife served the customers, always keeping mugs filled with hot coffee strong enough to keep you going, along with stacks of their famous flapjacks drenched in butter and maple syrup. 

On this particular day, he stopped by, took a seat at the counter, and was greeted by the owners with smiles and the promise of endless cups of coffee and a complimentary stack of pancakes.

He passed away a short time later and was laid to rest beside his bride, Blanch, where together they could once again reflect on the diner on Route 58 and a life filled with the joy of happy customers. Every so often, a flash from a camera would illuminate the memories as Blanch added another picture to her collection.

As for the diner, it changed hands many times before being deemed too old and ultimately torn down. A new diner was constructed to resemble an Airstream, but it lacked the charm of the original as it became part of a chain called the Silver Streak Diner. Some things should be left alone, particularly in the eyes of those who understood the significance of a cup of strong coffee and a short stack, sending them on their way to somewhere down Route 58.

Mike 2025