i'm here

Making the final turn, Karen smiled at the little boy standing on the corner, skateboard tucked under his arm.  He grinned back, then turned and ran into Mr. Whipple's candy store.  She could guess what the boy was dreaming about tonight.

She continued down the road, a few cars parked on the side here and there. It was like coming home again.  Looking left and right she saw all the familiar businesses and landmarks she remembered.  She even saw a few new things she didn't remember from before.  Like the wolf riding in the back seat.

He is a magnificent beast.  His coat was a tawny color with blonde highlights.  The color darkened to form a line from the top of his head to the tip of his bushy, full tail.  She looked in the rear view mirror and he grinned at her. 

"Real full of yourself, aren't you?" she teased him.  He liked it when she wrote about him.  The better she could describe him and bring his image to her mind, the stronger the feeling of being alive was.  After all, they were a pair, mated for this lifetime.  He was her guide and protector, when she would allow it.  She could be as stubborn as he could, one reason they got along so well.  Most of the time.

"We're almost there", she told him.  He climbed from the back to the front seat and sat up catching the appreciative eye of everyone as they drove by.  "You are soooo conceited" she chided him.

There it is.  Mel's.  Is that the pink cadillac?  Yep, I do believe it is.  Good, that means Flo is here too.  Pulling into a parking space near the front door, Karen set the gear in first and engaged the parking brake.  Troy always gives her a hard time about putting on the parking brake on a level surface, but it's a habit she's stuck with.  She'd seen one of their other cars slowly roll toward the road before when it wasn't in gear.  No way that was happening to her baby!

Turning the radio down, she switched off the engine.  Wolf looked at her with his gentle blue eyes, knowing what she was thinking.  She smiled and reached up, scratching him under the chin.  "I love you, guy".

They climbed out of the car and headed for the front door.  Reaching up Karen opened the door, stepping inside and holding it open for Wolf.  Pulling her sunglasses off, she turned and scanned the room.  A few customers here and there -- oh, look, there's Ozzy -- but no sign of Angie.  Wolf slipped his head under her hand and nudged her toward a table.  Ozzy waved, then turned back to his conversation with Kurt Cobain.

"WELL!  WHY, I'LL BE!!"

Karen knew that voice well.  Flo ran up, giving her a huge hug.  Karen hugged her back, happy to see her friend.

"Welcome back" Mel hollered up from the back.  Karen waved while Flo ushered her to their regular table.  Of course, no one would be sitting there. 

"Pepsi?" Flo asked knowing.  Karen nodded her head as Wolf jumped up in the seat opposite her. 

"Anything for this fine fellow?" Flo asked.

"He's fine, but thanks for asking."

Flo nodded and headed off to get her Pepsi.

Karen took a deep breath, looked into those handsome blue eyes, and waited ...