A bell tinkled as she opened the door of the diner. Desperation for caffeine while travelling had driven Carla into some fairly basic and utilitarian establishments in the past, but looking around she decided that this had to rank among the least impressive of them. Baleful, fluorescent lighting and a floor of black and white tiles made it immediately hard on the eyes, while the buzzing from the sign outside joined with the humming lights, the refrigerators, and a resonating Insect-o-cutor in a headache-inducing, symphonic drone that was impossible to ignore. Behind the grimy, laminate counter stood a teenage girl who would have been rail thin if she wasn’t heavily pregnant. She glared at Carla with evident hostility, drawing on a Marlboro and making no effort to move as her new and only customer crossed the room. “Good evening” began Carla. No response. “Can I get a cup of coffee, please?” The girl’s pasty, acne-mottled features curled in a sneer. “Ain’t no hot water”
