The Spitfire Grill Page #2

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truck 'round back.

- We'll get you to the hospital in Lewiston.

- Don't touch my leg.

It's the only place

that's got a doctor.

Stay away.

You want to fight me, old woman?

Have at it.

But come hell or high water

that's where you're gonna go.

All right.

Don't take a parade...

...just to get me into bed.

Easy, now.

Shoo, both of you, huh?

We've got it. Thank you.

All this plaster on my leg,

I'm sure I ain't going anywhere.

Now, you care to tell us

what happened here, Hannah?

She didn't push me down the stairs,

if that's what you're thinking.

I was climbing up on the chair

and my hip spasmed on me.

Just the same,

I think it'd be best for...

...Percy to go now.

Go where?

I guess I should probably get going.

I'm heating some coffee.

No, that's all right.

My father will worry

if I don't show up...

...around there pretty soon.

Thanks for helping me get Hannah

into the hospital.

You should be getting the thanks.

You done all right for her, Percy.

Look, I won't tell anyone

why you were at Windham...

...if that's what you want.

Time will tell.

Yes, it will.

Coffee's hot.

We don't know the

first thing about her.

So we just ship her back

to Henry Minton at the prison?

That'll be a fine thank you

for her getting me to Lewiston.

I'm going to need someone around here

until I'm back on my feet.

Shelby can look

after the Grill...

Shelby!

You're always carping

on how numb she is...

...so Shelby'll just

cure everything...

...I'm sure.

Ever since Eli...

I'm responsible for

you now, Hannah.

Well, that's queer...

...'cause I don't recall asking you

or anyone else...

...to take over my life for me.

So until I forget my name...

...or start drooling at the mouth...

...I'll thank you to allow me

to make my own decisions.

I won't be...

...in this bed forever, you know.

Until then...

...Percy can manage things.

Sorry.

Hannah, I was going to head up.

- Can I get you anything before I go?

- No, I'm fine.

But...

...Glacier and I both are

having trouble imagining...

...just who exactly it was

taught you how to cook.

I never really had much more

than fast food growing up...

...and if any of that was really cooked,

you could've fooled me.

I know I'm making a mess of it.

If not for the food,

they'd find something else...

...to complain about.

Right.

Good night, then.

Percy?

Percy?

There might...

...still be one thing

that needs doing.

You'll find a canvas sack...

...in the office.

It needs to have these canned

goods put in it and then...

...placed outside near that stump.

Then you can go on to bed

and get your rest.

Think you can just do that?

I'll see to it.

Not to worry.

Percy...

Make sure that the axe goes

in the stump...

...before someone steps on it

and gets hurt.

Sure.

'Morning.

'Morning.

This is Molly.

I'm afraid Nahum didn't think of all

the details when he asked me in here.

I brought a playpen for her...

...and she shouldn't

be any bother.

Is that okay with you?

Hell, it's gotta be a lot more

your place than mine.

- Set her wherever you like.

- Thanks...

...Percy.

It'll just be a second.

There we go.

There we go.

Bacon.

Damn, this is good.

It's nothing special.

It's a far sight better than

when Hannah makes it.

You just don't know any better.

Anything's gotta taste good

after eating food...

I'm...

...sorry.

I shouldn't have said anything.

I didn't exactly make a secret

of where I've been.

Not exactly.

You saved my bacon

in here today, Shelby.

After things got sorted out...

...it went pretty good, didn't it?

- Yeah.

You can say that twice

and mean it.

I better get going.

Nahum'll be waiting.

Good night.

Good night.

Wait.

Wait!

I don't mean you no harm.

I thought you might want something

different in the bag, that's all.

I know what's it like

eating the same thing every day...

...till you can't stand it no more.

Would you like that maybe?

Something different

in the bag next time?

Okay, then, it's a deal.

We'll try something new.

Maybe next time...

...we won't be so rushed, we'll have

a chance to chat. That'll be okay, right?

Well, it's late, so...

...I'll be getting back.

Hi, Mom.

Hi, sweetheart.

You're right on time.

Look over that, I'll be right back.

What you got for me today?

No lack of odd ducks around here.

You can say that

twice and mean it.

Put your napkin in your lap.

"For Sale" sign

in the window...

Is Hannah really selling

this place?

Did I say something wrong?

Meet me on the back porch.

We'll need more potatoes for supper.

Sorry, I shouldn't be so nosy.

No.

It's not that, it's just...

...I don't know if it's

right for me to say.

But, I can't see how

it's wrong neither.

You see...

...Hannah had a son.

Eli.

And right from the first...

...it was pretty clear he

was something special.

Tall, strong...

...sweet.

All-state champ four

years running.

Somehow it just seemed like

Eli brought out the best in this town...

...like as long as he was here...

...somehow everything would

turn out all right.

Then the war in Vietnam came.

Did he get drafted?

Oh, no.

No.

He enlisted.

His dad, James, was sort of

a big hero in World War II.

I guess that's why they named

this place the Spitfire.

So, when it came Eli's turn to serve,

he was raring to go.

I can still remember...

...walking up the hill

to the bus stop...

...with the whole

town to see him off.

That was the last time

we ever saw Eli.

Hannah never told me what

the official story was but...

...after a few years

it was pretty clear...

...he wasn't coming back.

His dad, James,

took it real hard.

I guess his heart just

gave out from it.

Couple years after

James died, Hannah...

...put the Grill up for sale...

...and asked Nahum to see

if he couldn't find a buyer.

That was almost...

...ten years ago.

You know...

...if Hannah still wants

to sell this place...

...she might try running one

of them essay contests.

Contests?

When I worked at the Tourist Office,

some folks had an inn they couldn't sell.

They ran an essay contest

to raffle it off.

They got more than they could

have sold that place for.

Sounds crazy, huh?

Percy!

What's wrong?

We must be running

short of supplies now.

Supplies?

From the sound of it,

I thought your hair was on fire.

Well, it ain't.

Now, I want you to drive down

to the Discount Mart in Bethel.

I got a list all made

out for you here.

You can drive, can't you?

I've driven some,

but you want me to go?

It's warming up a little.

I thought you could use the fresh air.

Besides, the way

your cooking's...

...improved, I think it's high time

we give Shelby...

...a turn in the kitchen, don't you?

I'm sure she'd welcome

the chance.

Here's the list.

There's $300 here

in the drawer.

The key to the truck.

You won't have any trouble

finding your way back, will you?

No, ma'am.

All right.

What do you think, Glacier?

Hey, mister!

You all right there?

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