It was a quiet breakfast. Every page of the paper was read including sports, classifieds and the food page. Gunter worked on the crossword puzzle and Travis looked through the want ads, curious as to the price of a used tractor. He found four columns to choose from. This went on long enough that Travis started to refuse any more warm ups for his coffee as he was beginning to grind his teeth, never a good sign, he thought.
“This really is a most unusual place, you know, your astounding mental powers aside?” said Gunter. He noticed it seemed to be his job to end long stretches of silence.
“Because they love me?” Travis asked smiling proudly.
“Well, there is that, of course, but did you notice that cell phones don’t work here. A half mile in any direction, no problem, just not in Otter Lake. And did you know that the same number of people live in Otter Lake as when it was a lumber town in the 1800s? The population here has never really changed.”
“I don’t know what is more curious, this information or the fact that you know it,” Travis said. “Let me guess…”
“Tiny's Party Store” they both said in unison.
“It is like CNN.” Gunter said admiringly. “I was there already this morning, and if you stay long enough reading free magazines and eating mini-mart delicacies, the world is yours."
“It sounds like you were sucking in knowledge like an aphid on a plant stem,” Travis said.
“You have the concept exactly!” Gunter exclaimed.
“Tiny’s donuts are horrible,” volunteered Candy as she walked by, “Jeanne brings ours from the bakery in Fostoria,” she said implying that was a mark of donut greatness.
“I didn’t get one of yours,” Gunter mumbled in a low voice.
“Travis is hiding one under the paper,” Candy said cheerfully over her shoulder as she walked away.
Gunter stared across the table.
Travis produced the donut and handed it to Gunter.
“Years, based on trust…,” Gunter said with sadness in his voice.
“It is just a donut,” replied Travis wondering how Candy’s love had already turned into betrayal.
“Nothing is just a donut,” Gunter replied solemnly.
“This really is a most unusual place, you know, your astounding mental powers aside?” said Gunter. He noticed it seemed to be his job to end long stretches of silence.
“Because they love me?” Travis asked smiling proudly.
“Well, there is that, of course, but did you notice that cell phones don’t work here. A half mile in any direction, no problem, just not in Otter Lake. And did you know that the same number of people live in Otter Lake as when it was a lumber town in the 1800s? The population here has never really changed.”
“I don’t know what is more curious, this information or the fact that you know it,” Travis said. “Let me guess…”
“Tiny's Party Store” they both said in unison.
“It is like CNN.” Gunter said admiringly. “I was there already this morning, and if you stay long enough reading free magazines and eating mini-mart delicacies, the world is yours."
“It sounds like you were sucking in knowledge like an aphid on a plant stem,” Travis said.
“You have the concept exactly!” Gunter exclaimed.
“Tiny’s donuts are horrible,” volunteered Candy as she walked by, “Jeanne brings ours from the bakery in Fostoria,” she said implying that was a mark of donut greatness.
“I didn’t get one of yours,” Gunter mumbled in a low voice.
“Travis is hiding one under the paper,” Candy said cheerfully over her shoulder as she walked away.
Gunter stared across the table.
Travis produced the donut and handed it to Gunter.
“Years, based on trust…,” Gunter said with sadness in his voice.
“It is just a donut,” replied Travis wondering how Candy’s love had already turned into betrayal.
“Nothing is just a donut,” Gunter replied solemnly.
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