Chronicle VI

The old tube television is strapped to a swivel rack suspended in the upper corner of the diner behind the counter for the patrons to see. For the first time in what Ol' Earl might claim to be a decade, the diner is abuzz with folks. Too bad Ol' Earl isn't among them to see it. Even the parking lot is full of cars, trucks and a couple news vans.

The tv reporter is mute as the screen crackles from poor reception. In the parking lot the reporter continues, "We are being asked now to leave the parking area. The officers are starting to partition off the lot and they are stating that it has now become a murder scene. Last heard, the body count was at 8. So again, we are out on old state route.."

2 hours prior.

A man and woman sit at a table in the corner of a small, scarcely populated diner. The cook, Ol' Earl, has already approached the couple and took their order while complaining about Sarah not showing up for work that morning. The couple's conversation becomes heated at times. Their voices becoming loud enough for Ol' Earl to hear through the kitchen's order window.

"You knew this from the beginning," the man began. "I. Don't. Care. Every person in here could die right now and I wouldn't care. It's just a part of me. It doesn't make you any less important to me. I'm not going to spend every waking minute thinking about someone else. You either live with it or you don't."

"Ok.. then what if I don't?! How bout I leave and take that case with me?"

The man sits there gently turning his Zippo between his thumb and middle finger. He stares at it as each side taps the table top while he turns it in motion. "I'd rethink that before you decide that's what you're going to do."

"Really? Why? You going to hurt me or something?"

The man sets his Zippo down on the table. "Sometimes things aren't just about you. Maybe it's because I don't want to hurt everyone in this place." His focus shifts from the Zippo on the table to the womans face, "I knew you didn't understand when this began, even though I explained it to you. I knew that you took it as a grain of salt. Don't underestimate my inabilities. Just because someone might think the job was done doesn't mean the job can't be done for real."

"You are so FULL OF SHIT!!" The woman's voice grabbed Ol' Earl's attention. He turned around in time to see the woman stand up, push the man back and grab a case from the man's side. The man grabbed her wrist and yanked her down towards him as his other arm jutted straight up.

That was the first time Ol' Earl saw blood spray high enough to hit the ceiling of the diner. The last thought Ol' Earl had was how am I going to clean that up?