COPYCAT

May 19, 1976

Only a handful of people sat in the Westside Diner. Most of them were kids from my high school. Despite the many different conversations going on, I could still hear the noisy fan vibrate over the Television in the upper corner behind the counter. The useless toy not producing nearly enough cool air for this particularly hot summer evening. The glass window showed the corner of 5th and Maplewood where Frank's auto shop and gas station had been for years. By the time Lydia slid my milkshake towards me, my hand shot out, meeting it halfway, and instantly wrapped my lips around the pink straw. The cold glass cup felt refreshing in my clammy grip, the thick ice cream washing over my taste buds as it slid down my throat. Lydia smiled at me as she shook her head, then walked away, tending to another customer at the other end of the counter.

Dolores, one of my closest friend since elementary, made a joke I didn't catch and Susan laughed in between us. Susan grabbed her drink and held the cold glass to her forehead. Rolling it back and forth.

I soon grow to regret my decisions when the piercing agony of a brain freeze sends me screwing my face in pain. The two had a laugh at me but I simply ignored them.

"I'm so happy it's officially summer." Susan sighed with her eyes closed.

"I know right!" Dolores agreed as she chewed on her blue straw. "What're your guys' plans this summer? Since my parents decided to get a divorce now all our plans are kind of shot so I literally have nothing to do."

"That sucks. I'm sorry Dolores." Susan apologized but Dolores simply shrugged it off and smiled. "Well I'm gonna be going up to the family cabin with my cousin for the weekend, then a wedding in the middle of July, but other than that my schedule's wide open. Wanna hang out?"

"Yes, please, since Harmony's just gonna leave me."

At the sound of my name, I glance up from sipping my milkshake and find both Dolores and Susan scowling at me. I swallow quickly and hold a napkin to my lip when I feel like some might come out.

"I'll be back next week," I said through a mouth full of ice cream

Susan turned to Dolores with narrowed eyes, "So she says."

"I asked her to take me with her and she said no. Can you believe that?" Dolores scoffed.

"Monster." Susan shook her head at me as she took Dolores' head and forced her to lean on her shoulder.

"She wanted me to hide her in my suitcase!" I explained.

"And you couldn't do that?" She scoffed and turned to Dolores. "Lo, I would absolutely pack you in my suitcase."

Dolores smiled as though someone had confessed their love for her in the most poetic way. "Awe, that's so sweet Susan. Thank you."

I rolled my eyes at my friends and turned my attention elsewhere as my lips reconnected with my straw. The two found themselves in a new conversation and began talking about Jen Benson's "shocking" big break up with Levi Smith. (I say it like this because to someone who actually took note of their actions rather than their popularity status as a couple, they'd see just how awful together they were. Constantly fighting and rumors or cheating. I supposed it was only a matter of time.)

Bored, I glanced down the counter at the kind old gentleman sitting on the last stool by the restrooms and exit door at his usual spot. The same steak and gravy meal prepared for him everytime he waddled in. Hat in hand to great Lydia or anyone else working the front counter, though it was almost always Lydia. He ate in peace and silence. Bothering no one for years. I sometimes found myself wondering what his life was like. All the adventures he had, his hopes and regrets. Did he once have a lover? Could this have been her favorite diner before her passing and that's why he comes every day?

Every day I'd imagine different stories.

He tried to pay his meal off, as usual, but Lydia refused to take his money. Only walking away with his plate and bill before he could even reach for his wallet. I smiled at Lydia's kindness. Did she know him personally? He climbed down from his stool and carefully made his way to the front door. My eyes followed him, taking note of his limp.

As he pushed the front door open, the bell rang, and my eyes moved from him to the auto shop across the street. One of the workers was standing outside the front, leaning back by the doors and smoking a cigarette. He was wearing the usual uniform, a navy jumper, and black boots. He had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows with dark patterns on his arms. I wonder what his story was? I hadn't seen him before. Was he knew in town?

He glanced over at the diner and I thought nothing of it at first. But the longer he stared the more I began to panic that he could see me. He pushed off the wall and flicked his cigarette. When he started walking over I quickly averted my eyes elsewhere, desperate to look at something—anything else. Had he seen me? Was he gonna come over and tell me off for staring? The humiliation from the possible outcome settled in the pit of my stomach and I gnawed nervously on my straw.

I hear the bell dig and almost instantly freeze in my spot.

"What can I get you, hun?" Lydia's wholesome voice sounds as she comes through the kitchen doors. A notepad and pen in hand. Her gray hairs subtly peeked through her bun and her aging eyes shining brighter than the sun.

The sound of fingers drumming against the counter top sounded just beside me, and I had to stop myself from jumping. I pretended to be completely submerged in my milkshake, but every now and again I'd shamelessly steal a glance his way. He had dark brown curls pulled back, so dark it could pass as black. Was it black? The ends curled around his ears. From the lighting and the angle, I couldn't tell if his eyes were grey or green. But I knew for a fact they were colored.

"I'll do a Westside double with everything on it, monster fries, a coke, and a shake with a side of onion rings."

Wow.

Green. He definitely had green eyes. Now that he was looking at me I can clearly make out what color they were. Wait—he's looking at me! Both him and Lydia! Why are they looking at me?

It was then I realized I had accidentally spoken out loud. I could feel my face go completely red.

"What?" He inquired as Lydia put the pen back behind her ear and walked his order to the kitchen in the back. His voice was light but raspy. As though he naturally had a gentle voice but smoked his fair share of cigarettes or spent excessive amounts of time yelling at the top of his lungs until his voice was nearly reduced to nothing.

"Nothing I just... I've never heard someone order so much food at once." I tried to explain. My voice sounded so small and wimpy. Anyone with ears could hear my nerves.

"What, that?" he asked before waving his hands."That was nothing."

He leaned his crossed forearms against the countertop. "I'm a growing boy. I gotta eat." He said with a lopsided grin.

I smiled nervously and glance down at my lap. When I could still feel his eyes on me, my hands instinctively brush my hair out of my face and behind my ears

"Susan,you're an idiot. Right, Harmony?" Dolores' voice chimed loud enough for my ears to hear and I turn when I hear my name.

"What?" I murmured, slightly lost.

"For going up into the woods without an adult." She explained.

"Bobby's gonna be there." Susan retorted.

"Your cousin doesn't count as an adult. No offense, Susan, but I've met Boddy. She's only two years older than you and she acts three years younger."

"Whatever, you're just being dramatic." Susan simply brushed off.

"No, I'm not." When Dolores notices my lack of surprise, she frowns in confusion. "Harmony, did you know about this?"

They both turned to me, and I hesitantly nodded. Susan always told me everything. And she especially told me things first before telling Dolores, just to get some non-judgmental input. As much as I love Delores (and believe me I do, the girls like a sister to me) she always did have a tendency to be a little judgy.

The bell dinged and I quickly wiped my head. I watched him walk away, toward the road to cross back to work most likely.

I felt Susan bump my shoulder.

"What was that?" she asked with a gentle whisper so Dolores wouldn't hear.

I shrugged and gave her a look like I had no idea what she was talking about. When Lydia walked by, I made sure to flag her down and ask what monster fries were.