Storm Warning

by Nellie Wilson

Light makeup today, though I make sure to really emphasize my liquid eyeliner wing. Defined. What was it? Oh, yes — sharp enough to kill a man.

“Waffle House is a cultural institution. It’s cheap, it’s filling, they’re everywhere down here, and they’re open twenty-four hours a day.” I hold the door open for him, and he walks in. “I mean, there’s a decent chance that you’ll see a fight and that there’s going to be cigarette ash in your potatoes, but that’s just part of the experience.”

‘you know a storm is really bad when a Waffle House closes,’ and apparently, the local government there uses the number of Waffle Houses open to gauge a storm’s effect.”

“You’ve noticed all this about me?” Julian asks. “I thought you hated me.” “Even when I hated you, I still noticed you.”