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Click HERE for all of Don’t Forget Schuster.
Click HERE for all of Route 66-based story.

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Ordering the “house special” at Charlene’s Diner means you are putting your meal in Charlene’s very capable hands. She cooks whatever she has in mind to make for you, but not once in her umpteen years of offering this option has she ever disappointed a patron. She kept her record in tact this evening with Phil & Vern, serving Phil a steak with potatoes, corn bread & a vegetable mix, & delivering a heaping plate of spaghetti with a side salad to Vern, just as Vern was finishing telling Phil about the tentative itinerary for his upcoming road trip to Nashville to stay with his Nephew for a while.

“Wow,” Phil’s eyes widened as Charlene set his plate of food in front of him. “I think you may’ve outdone yourself, Charlene!”

“You think so?” she playfully asked while setting the spaghetti in front of Vern.

“No,” Vern said his eyes wandering all over the spaghetti, “we KNOW so!”

“Well, then, you boys enjoy!” Charlene laughed, then scurried off to serve other customers.

“Before we dig in,” Phil said eyeing his plate of food in an attempt to figure out where to start, “let me just say, Vern, I almost wish I was going WITH you to Tennessee. Your plans sound positively awesome.”

“Well, thank you,” Vern said attempting to cut up his spaghetti so he could then douse it with parmesan cheese. “But, I prefer solo road trips.”

Phil laughed & smiled before taking a bite: “Yep, I know.”

While they savored their 1st taste of their “house specials”, the diner’s front door burst open. Before Vern or Phil could turn to see who’d entered, they heard Charlene yell.

“Well, my stars, look who is here! Sheriff told me y’all might come back to town yet tonight. You here for some food?”

“Of course!” Kyle replied, while he, Ashley & the kids walked further into the diner.

“Grab whatever booth or table you want, & I’ll be right with you!”

“Thank you,” Kyle nodded, then noticed Phil & Vern looking his direction. “Hey Phil, Vern.”

Kyle gave Ashley a quick kiss, ushered her & the kids to a booth, then walked over to Phil & Vern.

“I’m surprised to still see you here,” Kyle said, looking at Vern. “Thought you’d be on your way to Tennessee before we got back to town.”

“Yep, I did, too,” Vern said between bites of spaghetti. “But, it’s been a crazy day, so as luck would have it, I’m still here!”

“Cool! When do you leave?”

“Probably tomorrow. I was going to leave today, but got a bit derailed when I had some visitors.”

“You & those loud parties of yours,” Kyle chuckled.

“Sheriff keeps warning him,” Phil said swallowing a bite of steak & shaking his head.

Vern rolled his eyes & smiled, while Kyle turned his attention to Phil: “So, Sheriff ready for me to come back?”

“Of course,” Phil laughed. “But are YOU ready to be back?”

“No,” Kyle said quickly. “I was liking that particular change of scenery.”

“I bet,” Phil acknowledged, taking a bite of corn bread. “But, it’ll be good to have you back.”

“Thanks,” Kyle said.

“You & your changes of scenery,” Vern started, having chewed & swallowed a fork-full of salad.

“I know,” Kyle said. “We have very different versions, don’t we?”

“We sure do,” Vern agreed, smiling.

“Welp, I see Charlene heading towards Ashley & the kids, so I better get over there & order, too,” Kyle said, glancing at Phil’s plate, then at Vern’s. “I’m guessing you ordered the House Special!?”

“Indeed,” Phil confirmed.

“Think that’s what I’ll have, too,” Kyle said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Phil. Vern, if I don’t see you before you leave, I’ll certainly see you when you get back. Hope you have a great trip!”

“Thank you,” Vern said.

Kyle turned & walked towards where Ashley & the kids were, while Charlene said: “C’mon, Kyle, get over here. Need to know what you want for….”

BOOM! The building shook a bit & 1 of the front glass windows shattered. Instinctively, Phil leaped up & he & Kyle went towards the front of the diner, guns drawn.

“Everybody OK?” they both asked, & a round of “Yes” & “I think so” responses peppered back at them.

“It’s the gas station,” croaked a more feeble Old Lady Yannich. “There’s a fire over there!”

Vern quickly roamed his eyes over the patrons in the diner, noticed Tyler standing by the kitchen door & suddenly realized Ricky most-likely was in the station.

“Ricky!” Vern yelled out.

“I’m on it,” Kyle said. “Phil, stay here & make sure everyone is OK. Charlene, call the fire department. I’ll call the Sheriff & more backup.”

Phil tossed Kyle a set of keys: “Here, take my cruiser.”

Kyle caught the keys, nodded & rushed out the door.