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Click HERE for entire Don’t Forget Schuster.
Click HERE for entire Route 66-based story.
Click HERE for entire The Newspaper Limo.

mystery story sequel-continuation

“We aren’t late are we!?” a somewhat-baffled Vern half-asked Evan while putting his 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis in park outside Charlene’s Diner.

“No…,” Evan slowly replied, glancing at his phone to make sure. “It’s just now 11:22….”

“But, look, that place is packed already!”

Evan sorta shrugged, & the 2 got out of the car & started walking towards the diner.

“We must be late,” a hustling Sheriff, who’d just parked his cruiser, stated while catching up to Vern & Evan, who were just about to enter the building.

“No,” Vern replied, “everyone is early!”

With that, Vern pushed open the front door to Charlene’s greeting: “Well, it’s ‘bout time y’all got here! We’ve been waiting for you!”

“How long has everyone been here!?” Vern asked, glancing around the room to see many familiar faces. Old Lady Yannich smiled & waved from her normal table by the window, with Mabel from the motel sitting with her. Tom & Phil were seated together at another table & Kyle, Ashley & their kids occupied a booth & a half.

“Oh, not too long,” Charlene replied from her spot behind the counter. “Folks just wanted to be here, is all.”

“So, what’s on the menu today?” the Sheriff asked.

“Well, now, you know me, Sheriff, an occasion like this, I ain’t tellin’!” Charlene playfully responded. “But rest assured, I cooked up something special for everybody. Now, c’mon Tyler, show the Sheriff & Vern & Evan to their seats!”

Tyler, who’d been standing at the kitchen door behind the counter, moved swiftly & showed the trio to a table in a corner opposite Old Lady Yannich’s table.

“We don’t have menus for this meal,” Tyler quickly explained as Vern, Evan & the Sheriff settled into their chairs, “because Charlene is preparing the House Special for everybody today.”

“I suspected as such,” the Sheriff said, eliciting a chuckle from most everybody in the room.

“That’s why you’re the best detective in town,” Tom offered, registering more laughs.

“Yeah, well, just remember who can put you in jail & keep you there,” the Sheriff jokingly threatened.

“C’mon Tyler, let’s get these folks served now,” Charlene instructed.

With that, Tyler went back into the kitchen & helped Charlene serve the dishes she’d lovingly prepared for everyone. They delivered food 1st to Old Lady Yannich & Mabel.

“Well, don’t that look scrumptious,” Mabel observed, glancing at her fried chicken & dumplings, then looking up at Charlene. “Maybe it’s a good thing the motel will be connected to your diner soon?!”

“May-be!” Charlene agreed.

“Charlene, honey, this is really very sweet of you to do for all of us,” Old Lady Yannich offered in her crackling voice. “But, please tell me you have made something special for yourself, too!?”

“But, of course!” Charlene smiled. “Don’t you worry ’bout me!”

Next to be served was Kyle, Ashley & their kids, who were quite ready for food, but mostly were eager for their beloved chocolate milk.

“Now, how’d you know my offspring wanted chocolate milk, Charlene?” Kyle grinned. “Don’t tell me you’re next job is going to be Sheriff!”

“Not a chance,” Charlene responded with a smirk. “I’ll let Vern over there take over that role, if he wants.”

“Nope, no thank you,” Vern said. “I wouldn’t be able to road trip, then.”

“You still haven’t left yet anyway,” Ashley voiced what everyone else was thinking.

“Yeah, yeah,” Vern retorted. “I know … soon, tho!”

A chorus of “sure” & “we’ll believe it when we see it” followed Vern’s last remarks.

Next up to be served: Tom & Phil.

“Charlene, I know you’ve said you’re not political,” Tom began, while Charlene placed a plate in front of him & Tyler did the same for Phil, “but, I have to say, what you are doing, is exactly what this town needs right now. Someone who will grab the reins & simply DO.”

“I agree, Mayor, er, Tom,” Charlene replied, “but I’m not the one who put this little shindig together in the 1st place. I’m just the cook!”

“Now, now, don’t go putting me in that Mayor job,” Vern quickly piped up, sensing his name was going to resurface in conversation….

“We know,” Charlene interrupted, glancing back towards Vern, “if you’re Mayor you….”

“…can’t do your road trips,” nearly everyone in the diner finished Charlene’s statement.

Vern simply smiled & offered: “Exactly. So, what about Phil as the new Mayor?”

“Oh, no, not a chance,” Phil said, eyeing his steak, potatoes, corn bread & vegetable mix. “I love my job with the PD … about as much as I love Charlene’s cooking!”

Finally, Vern, Evan & the Sheriff were served. Charlene brought out Vern’s plate, his favorite heaping helping of spaghetti with a side salad & a piece of corn bread this time, while Tyler carried out plates for Evan & the Sheriff.

“Ya know, Vern,” Charlene said while setting the spaghetti in front of Vern, “we all look up to you & ask you for advice from time to time. You really should consider being Mayor. I doubt anyone would mind if you did your road trips anyway.”

Vern nodded: “I appreciate that Charlene, I do, but … I don’t know….”

“Well, would you at least think about it?”

“Sure, why not!?”

“Hey, I’d be OK with that,” the Sheriff said. “You couldn’t fire me!”

“Funny, Marty,” Vern said glancing at the Sheriff. “I wouldn’t want to fire you anyway!”

“So, um, Evan,” Tyler began, attempting to change the subject, “How’s your grandpap’s car looking? I hear it finally arrived!”

“Eh, it’s OK,” Evan replied, looking at Tyler. “I think it’ll be fine.”

“It will be,” Vern interjected. “We’ll get it out to my place & look over it before I leave for Nashville.”

“Cool,” Tyler said. “Maybe I’ll stop by when y’all are working on it?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not, Tyler,” Vern responded. “Evan?”

“Yeah, that’d be fine. I’ll text you, Tyler, when we have it out there.”

With that, Tyler nodded & followed Charlene back to the kitchen, where they gathered their plates & took them to a table near the counter. It was just after noon. For the next hour or so, a din of conversation with several group discussions interspersed filled Charlene’s diner as the townsfolk ate & enjoyed each other’s company before Ricky’s services….