From Juniper Creek...

Vignette No 6

From Juniper Creek

They are a family of nine sitting around the largest table in the restaurant. Dad, mom, and seven daughters. The oldest is about sixteen and is watching over the youngest one that looks about four.

The mom and the daughters are dressed in home made overall ankle long dresses with white bonnets over their tight braided hair. White running shoes peek out of the bottom of long dresses. They are looking down at their plates and eating very quietly, the only sound coming out of the table is from the mom. It is hard to tell if she is humming or praying.

The dad is dressed in a greasy working overall. There is some grease on his face and hands. Makes me wonder if he's a mechanic, or if their vehicle just broke down. He is sitting very straight on his chair, and he is barely touching his food as he looks intensely at the center of the table. He looks like a perched eagle watching over the land.

I finish my coffee, pay my bill and walk out leaving the family back alone in the restaurant. I notice that there is no other car in the parking area and that I can see for miles and miles to each side of the road with nothing in sight.