Human Blend Read Online Free PDF Page A

every little crumb aren't
you?”
    “Probably,” Julie answered, laughing along
with him.
    “Good thing we are here. I am gonna need some
sustenance to keep my strength up.” Julie entered the restaurant
when Austin held the door for her.
    “Thank you,” Julie said, stepping inside.
    The small breakfast place was a perfect
example of what small town eateries should look like. It had a row
of booths running along the window side, and a counter with swivel
seats directly in front of the kitchen area. The two waitresses on
duty looked like they had been working there forever, wearing the
same type of old-fashioned blue and white uniforms. Julie laughed
to herself. No wonder Kathy was unable to convince the board to
ditch the candy striper uniforms. Seems this town enjoys its old
history.
    “What did I miss?” Austin asked, as they
waited to be seated.
    “It's nothing,” Julie said, “I just love the
town's charm,” she added.
    “Morning, Austin,” the elderly waitress
called out to him. “Who's the new young lady?” the woman, whose
name tag read, 'Fannie', asked, approaching them.
    “Fannie, this is Julie,” Austin
introduced.
    “Well aren't you the beauty?” Fannie said,
appraising her. Julie smiled as Fannie continued. “Go get your
usual spot, and I'll be right over,” Fannie then shuffled away
behind the counter.
    Julie looked at Austin, “Usual, huh?”
    “Yep. I'm a regular. You'll see why once you
taste the food,” Austin said, explaining.
    Austin led Julie over to the last booth down.
Julie paused and asked, “Wait, which is your usual side?” Julie
knew if he had a usual table there would be a usual side he
preferred to sit down on.
    “I usually sit on this side,” Austin
indicated the side that looked back onto the rest of the
restaurant.
    “Then I'll sit on this side,” Julie said,
sitting down on the other side.
    Austin pursed his lips as he sat down. “Are
you making fun of me?”
    Julie laughed at his comment. “No, silly, I
just find it interesting how we are all creatures of habit,” Julie
answered, honestly. Austin accepted that answer with a nod of his
head.
    The menus were tucked away behind the napkin
dispenser on the table. Austin reached for one and handed it to
Julie. She took it and placed it back in its spot. “I wanna hear
what you recommend,” she stated, then asked, “What's your
usual?”
    “My usual is...” Austin started to say, but
Fannie had came over and interrupted him.
    “Baked apple pancakes with lemon sauce,” she
finished for him.
    Austin smiled. “It's out of this world.”
    “Sounds wonderful. I'm in,” Julie said.
    Fannie set down two glasses of ice water.
“Anything to drink?”she asked.
    Julie tilted her head towards Austin, who
answered, “Two large orange juices, freshly squeezed please.”
    “Coming right up,” Fannie said and then left
the two alone.
    “So, tell me, where did your explorations
take you yesterday?” Austin began the questions again.
    Julie was going to give Austin an honest
answer this time. “I actually wound up at the hospital,” Julie
said.
    Austin's eyes widened. “Wh... what
happened?”
    “Oh, no, not like that. I walked there to
check out employment opportunities,” Julie clarified.
    Austin's face immediately registered relief.
“So, did you find any? Work?” Austin asked.
    “Hey, no fair, my turn,” Julie said.
    Austin rolled his eyes and Julie laughed. “Do
you have any brothers or sisters?” she asked.
    “Nope, just me.” Austin kept his answer short
to get back to his question. “Same question as before.”
    Julie got a few extra moments to think about
how to word her answer, as Fannie bought their orange juice to the
table. When Fannie had walked away Julie answered, “Maybe. I'll
know more tomorrow.”
    Austin took the wrapper off the straw that
had come with the orange juice and rolled it between his
fingertips.
    “Do you... not want me to ask you questions?”
he asked.
    “No, not