A gentle storm came.
snow
enveloped all of town. Alan took out the old shovel and cleaned out the driveway for his mom. He would be sore from that he knew as he drove to Larry's diner for breakfast.
"You must be hungry." the waitress commented at Alan ordering three eggs instead of the usual two.
He nodded with a grin. It was satisfying to do something physical. There was that dutch saying that if you were feeling depressed you should buy a bunch of sand. Then you should shovel the sand. from one pile to the other. Then back. Over and over again. This would make you feel better. Better than if you were to sit around doing nothing.
Shoveling snow had a similar effect. It made him feel more satisfied than looking for jobs online or reading the news.
The coffee tasted better. The food more fulfilling. Sitting there drinking hot black coffee and shoveling greasy food into his mouth was not only a means to an end but rather an experience.
He sat there for hours not doing anything. Just staring at the people coming in and going out. Usually a person would come through who he knew. But today there was no Aaron. No Jack. No Imogen. Just himself. During his stay Larry came over to him and personally topped off his coffee cup.
"Say. So you're in town quite a while this time?"
"Yeah. It looks like it. Still not sure when I'm going back. Or even if I am."
"Are you thinking about moving back?"
"Maybe. To tell you the truth, I'm still paying rent in
Westcity
through July. But I kind of don't want to go back at all. But it'd be a waste right?"
Larry shrugged. Coffee pot in his left hand. Unassuming as ever.
"Maybe the biggest waste would be to be living in a place you don't like. but say. What's wrong with Westcity?"