Three In a Booth

It will be her first visit since the day we waved goodbye.... It is spring break !! It was moving day several months ago... that she wrapped her small arms around her Grandpa's waist, tearfully Then turned to me with "I love you" from her small voice" "I love you more"...I choked, with one last hug... And then they were gone... A white van, fully packed, we watched through blurry eyes...heading down the highway A battered U-Haul, trailing behind. But at last today is here!...Spring break!! We are meeting half-way.... Between the two cities so far apart We are picking her up, to bring her home......to have her smiles...for just awhile! Her springtime visit, a school recess There they are!! The meeting place we had arranged And before we know it...she has hopped into our car And once again...we are heading back home...her suitcases Her stuffed animals...her smiles and chatter in the back seat of our car. Lunch time....we must stop for awhile That cozy diner, that sits out in no-where-land, Along the stretch of the Interstate A place filled with truckers and travelers like us... The waitress shows us our booth This child hesitates, ...looks between the two of us Unable to decide.... "Who would you like to sit with, my love?" I ask..... When the waitress returns... Carrying our menus and three glasses of water ... She is rather startled, as are the other diners.. To find three people tightly squeezed together on one bench Yet across the table The other bench remains empty....