The Diner

Aliens secretly run a diner.

Situated on the edge of Rose-Well, New Mexico, sits an eating establishment that has been in business since 1947. It is not one of those new and shiny-looking places, no, sir. It has seen better days, and who knows what its future might be. Especially if the truth of the owners ever gets out into the public eye.

Strange things happen in the night sky all the time, and more than a few of the customers and town folks have claimed to see lights around the Diner. But the food is good and reasonably priced, though the meat they use has a somewhat off-flavor that is not easily recognized. No one can say for sure whether it is beef, chicken, or pork. But it does have a spicy kick to it.

The new Sheriff in town sits down in his favorite booth and orders his usual black coffee. Now, normally, he would also order the Chili, but today he decided to try the Chicken platter instead. One of the three waitresses comes over to fill his coffee cup. He takes a sip and burns his mouth. He notices her name tag and cusses out, "Dammit, Ruthie. The coffee is hotter than hell today. Did you use Lava to make it?"

She stares down at him for a moment before answering, "It's made the same way as any day, Roscoe, and you never complained before, Honey." She turns and walks away, back behind the counter.

The Sheriff notices she is walking more stiffly than normal, and he wonders why. With the commotion done with, the other customers go back to their meals.

Once behind the counter, Ruthie makes an adjustment that only the staff can see, but not the customers. The cashier, who happens to be the main owner, nods his head, while his eyes search the room. Back in the kitchen, the two cooks are hard at work. Each one uses all four of their arms. The dishwasher moves a stack of clean plates and cups closer to the door to the seat down area. His third leg gives him a kind of weird shuffle.

"Order up!" yells out the second cook and slides the Chicken Platter through the window. Ruthie picks it up and brings it to the Sheriff." Here you go. All fresh and hot from the oven." She gives him a strange little smile as she sets it before him. The owner watches as he takes his first bite, and a smirk appears on his face. He thinks to himself (If these humans only knew.)

Almost done with his meal, the Sheriff receives a call from the dispatcher about trouble, and he has to leave the rest of his food behind. Outside, he climbs into the Jeep and speeds away back toward town, no sirens going, just flashing lights. When he gets into town, he parks at the Sheriff's Office and has to lean out of the Jeep to puke. Strange that it has never happened before after eating at the Diner. He wonders what caused that, but duty calls first, so he wipes his mouth on a leftover napkin and enters the building....