050. Changes


Linda liked to go to Lou's Cafe, it had been there ever since she was born, in fact it had been there ever since her parents were her age! Her mother had once told her about the big Opening Day, how Lou had given everyone a free milkshake when they brought a hot dog.

"He was never that nice again," her mother laughed, shaking her head.

That was true, Lou had always been a grizzled, stand-offish man, but he always made Linda's milkshake the way she liked it, with extra ice cream.

But today when she stopped by after going to the library, she saw something that made her stop.

The turquoise painted cafe looked the same as ever except for a sign on the window. For Sale, it said.

At first Linda thought she was misreading, but walking right up to the window didn't make the words change.

Pushing through the double doors Linda went up to the counter.

"Hello!" She called, knocking on the counter. "Lou? Are you here?!"

"I'm on da phone!" He yelled from in the back.

Linda sat down on one a stool and waited, after about five minutes, Lou appeared.

"Miss. McFly, the usual, huh?"

"What's with the sign," Linda asked right away, pointing over her shoulder.

"What? Ya can't read? Whadda they teach you kids in school anyway?" Lou's voice was even gruffer then usual, he seemed to be avoiding the subject.

"I can read, but why is it there? You're not really selling the cafe?"

Lou shrugged. "I've been runnin' this place for nearly thirty years, kid. Life has changed a lot around here. I don't think there was even such thing as a mall back when I opened."

"So? The Mall has a lot of shops, but it doesn't have Lou's."

"That's nice of ya to say, kid, but I'm also gettin' on in years, I won't say how old, but its hella lot more than you."

"Who are you going to sell it to? Are they going to take over the cafe?"

"Probably not, most o' the people I'm talkin' to have their own ideas, this place is still kinda prime real estate, even if the square ain't lookin' its best anymore."

Linda had to agree, the square had changed a lot, even from five years ago. Still she'd always thought that Lou's would be there.

"But where will I go after the library?" She couldn't help complaining.

Lou actually looked sympathetic. "Sorry about that, kid, you've been a good customer, you know, you an' your folks, but ya can't stop progress."

It sounded like something Mayor Goldie Wilson would say, he'd used to work at the cafeway back in the 50s.

"But hey, it won't be so bad, I'll give ya my secret milkshake recipe," Lou leaned over the counter, "so ya can make it any time ya want."

Linda couldn't help, but smile...Lou wasn't such a bad guy after all...but she hated how everything had to change...


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