We stopped at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, a scary sort of place with an inch of grime on the surfaces and locals who watched our every move. Not the sort of place I'd choose for a pit stop, but needs must. Laurie went in while I pumped gas, and when she didn't return I went in after. The place was dark inside, a warren of interconnected rooms, the log cabin walls exposed. She was just paying our tab when I entered, and booked out to the car once I arrived. I couldn't leave, though. I had a stop to make.
Through a doorway and down an unlit corridor, I found myself in a greasy spoon diner. A single occupant sat at the counter, watching me through a tangled beard. The walls were covered in clippings from half a century ago. Then I went inside the bathroom. I almost jumped.
Here's what I found:
She may not look real in the photo, but believe me, when seen legs first as the door opens, the effect was pretty convincing. I suppose this was meant to be funny, but I already felt like a character in a slasher movie -- and not one of the ones who makes it through to the credits.
Laurie was waiting out by the car -- I'd locked it and taken the key. "Come on, let's go," I said. In the car, I showed her the camera phone pic. She didn't want to go in and see for herself. As we sped off, the locals eyeballed us. I couldn't tell whether they were laughing.
Disturbing in a rather humorous way, lol.
Posted by: Nathan Knapp | October 03, 2008 at 07:11 PM
"And the last word the lone customer at Katie's Greasy Spoon's diner heard was, 'Your waitress will be right with you. She just ran to the little girls' room.'" ;)
Posted by: angie | October 04, 2008 at 05:53 PM
I mean, did I mentioned the wrapped up hand? That's pretty weird, I think.
Posted by: J. Mark Bertrand | October 09, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Was this is the Mount Shasta area? Saw something similar there middle of the night on a snowy Thanksgiving trip to Eugene. Had to pee bad enough I toughed it out.
Good times.
Posted by: Chris | October 11, 2008 at 04:39 PM
You know, Chris . . . it was. How's that for a small world?
Posted by: J. Mark Bertrand | October 11, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Wow... that's altogether creepy!
I was just wondering what to do with my bathroom- thanks for the suggestion!
JK (I hope you knew that without me having to say it, but I figured I'd say it anyway, just to be sure...)
This is my first time on your blog- enjoying it so far, and I'm headed over to your writing craft blog. See you there!
Posted by: Avily Jerome | November 04, 2008 at 02:46 PM