"The Short Cut" Chpt 3: Snooze A Spell

Third prompt.
There has to be leather in this chapter. As a garment or whatever you like it to be, even just the mention of it. Mention an animal and food. Do not say animal or food, name specific ones. And make all prompts bold using this and this piece of WritingML.
Entry due by July 21, 2009; 11:59PM WDC time
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John was just about done swallowing the last bite of his cheeseburger when he felt the squeeze of a powerful hand on his right shoulder. John's fight or flight response told him to get up and run like hell, but the vice-like grip told him that the likelihood of him escaping Elwood's steely grasp was not likely. John's hand, resting on the fork that he had been using to eat, gingerly crept up the fork to about half-way up the handle, then awaited the right moment, which he thought would be any second. Suddenly, Elwood spoke:

"You 'bout done?

John nervously replied, feeling a bit relieved at the question, but not loosening his grip on the fork, either:

"Yes, the food was excellent. Where did you ever get meat that tasty for those burg.."

John had thought the best defense was to lavish a little praise on Elwood, but Elwood didn't let John complete the sentence. He cut him off with:

"Not talkin' 'bout the food...I jus' need to know if yer done droolin' at my sister?"

Elwood eased his grip on John's shoulder and John simultaneously eased his grip on the fork. He felt his hand shaking from having gripped the fork so intently. Elwood walked over in front of Ellie, partially obscuring Ellie from view, and he turned to face John.

"Want any dessert? And I mean only the desserts on the menu, Johnny boy. Nuthin' from the table."

Elwood motioned towards the table upon which Ellie had so unabashedly displayed herself, and he shot Ellie an angry glance at the same time. John shook his head no to dessert, and Elwood cleared John's place and began to head back towards the kitchen. The instant Elwood began moving, Ellie stifled a giggle, which got John's attention. She got even more of his attention as she quickly "flashed" John by rapidly raising her dress up to right about chest level, and then quickly lowering it down again. John was stunned, as he was almost certain that Ellie was wearing no panties! He had been in the process of reaching back around for his wallet to pay for  his dinner, but he quickly forgot what his hand was even back there for. His momentary vision of paradise was shattered by the sound of Elwood's fist meeting the bar back by the kitchen, and the reverberation of the impact almost knocked Old Lester off his stool. The old man quickly resumed his comatose-like position, again seemingly staring at the newspaper. Elwood's voice matched the force of the fist-to-bar impact in both ferocity and volume:

"Listen ya' two! If ya wanna go at it like a coupla' stinkin' rabbits I can't stop ya! But I'll be damned if yer gonna do it in my damned diner!"

John knew it was time to go. As much as he wanted Ellie, and at this point there was no doubting his desires, he was also fully aware of the fact that this wasn't the place to satisfy any carnal cravings he might be having. Besides, he had just stopped here for food; passing through on business! How in the hell did it come to this, anyway? John quickly re-focused, and got up from his table and walked over to Elwood, who was still located behind the bar. John needed to find a motel to sleep tonight, but, given the circumstances, he thought that asking Ellie for information about a motel within ear-shot of Elwood might not be a positive factor in his dream of living a long, prosperous life. Elwood eyed John suspiciously as John approached him. But, having been a salesman all of his adult life, John didn't let it bother him:

"Elwood, I need a motel for the evening...can you direct me to the closest one?"

"It depends...you gittin' a room fer jest yerself or ya 'spectin' company?"

Elwood eyed Ellie as he asked the question, and John couldn't help but grin a little at Elwood's attempt at subtlety.

"No, Elwood, I'm flying solo tonight. I need a good sleep because I have a long drive ahead of me tomorrow to get to Millersburg by nightfall."

Elwood glanced over at Ellie briefly, who was setting a new place at the table where John had dined, and she met Elwood's glance with an affirming nod of her head.

"Well, Mr. Johnny boy, the closest motel is just down the street 'bout two blocks or so. Name is 'Snooze a Spell Motel' and we got kin there that'll take right good care of ya. I ain't sayin' ya gotta go there but fer yer information, next closest motel is 'pert near an hour and a half yonder the other way. If ya go to "Snooze a Spell', ya'll be sure and tell 'em that Elwood sentcha."

John reached into his back pocket, pulled out his leather wallet, and took out a twenty to pay for a dinner that cost about twelve dollars.

"Keep the change."

With that, John headed for the door. He didn't hear Elwood mutter:

"I was gonna keep it...you sure as hell ain't gonna need it."

John also didn't see Ellie over with Old Lester, her hand firmly clamped over his mouth as he was trying to shout something to John as the screen door slammed behind him.

Outside, John looked around, noting that his car was the only one in the lot. How the hell do they stay in business with one customer a night? That was the question of the day. John also suddenly remembered the old car that was parked in the lot when he arrived, which was now gone. He wondered who could have driven it away, and why didn't he hear it start up when it left?

John started his own car and pulled out into the desolate gravel road. Continuing with the internal questions, John was absolutely positive that he had seen signs for other area motels a lot closer than an hour and a half away when he first got off the interstate earlier, so just what in the hell was Elwood trying to pull?  John then recalled Elwood's remark about 'kin' which answered the question. If that motel does the same booming business as the diner, I can understand Elwood steering me that way. And what about Ellie? Damn, she's a tease! John thought more about Ellie. I'll bet her sexual action happens about as frequently as me getting a sale! John laughed at the humorous analogy. It felt great just to distance himself from the freak show in the diner. Of course, knowing that he was going to be dealing with Elwood's kin didn't thrill him any, but do they get any weirder than Lester? And what in the name of all that's holy was that blue crap in Lester's skull that was oozing out? And who were the "somebody's" that Lester said were "watching me?"

John laughed out loud as he pulled into the small, deserted parking lot of the Snooze a Spell motel. Just as expected...nobody. He hopped out of the car and noted the old-style layout of the motel: maybe a dozen units in a row with a parking space in front of each unit. There wasn't a light on in the area with the exception of the large neon sign on the street and the "open" sign in the office. He walked in the office, twirling his car keys on his index finger. He rang the bell on the counter.

"I'll be right with you..."

John tilted his head, and with his eyes followed the female voice back to light coming from a door slightly ajar. He observed what he thought to be a young woman with her back to John with jet back hair reaching up to place something up on the top shelf of a tall cabinet. Her tight jeans fit her perfectly. John's first thought was to wonder how such an attractive young woman could be working all alone out in the middle of nowhere, and not be in some sort of danger. She finished placing the item on the shelf, and started to turn around.

"You still out there? I'm on my way"

John quickly resumed his stance behind the counter as he didn't want the young lady to know he was looking.
He got his wallet and opened it in search of his American Express card. The young woman arrived behind the counter and spoke:

"I take it you're here for a room?"

John looked up at the young lady to answer her question. He felt his heart race up to his throat, and he dropped his car keys, along with his wallet. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"EL....ELLIE?

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Words:1455    Cumulative: 3462