She was at a
gas station
called Chip's. Out in the middle of nowhere with nothing else around.
Imogen Howe
was pleasantly surprised to fill her car up at gas station that didn't belong to a franchise. She couldn't remember the last time she used any station other than Marathon, Shell, BP, or Citgo.
Chip's looked to be a one of a kind. When she went inside the man said hello.
She was surprised. What was a man from Westcity doing all the way out here. Running a gas station at that.
"Is your name Chip?"
"You betcha!"
"This is cool. A gas station that isn't--" Imogen paused for a moment. "This isn't a franchise is it?"
"Nope! This is the only one. Yes, mam."
"Mm. Very cool," Imogen said. She had a bottle of blue
gatorade
in her hand. She was going to buy that along with some gum. Maybe a bag of
Gardetto's
. "I run a cafe back home. Local actually."
"Coffee shop eh! So what brings you all the way out here--"
"Imogen."
"Imogen. Pretty name."
"Thanks," she placed the bottle, the bag, and a pack of gum on the counter top. Chip began punching in numbers into a register without looking away from her. "I'm just taking a road trip."
"Visiting someone out here?"
"No--" then she thought of Jack. "Yeah actually. But then I should get back home soon."
"Business can't run itself can it?"
A smile formed on her face. It was the first time she had smiled in a few days.