The Man From Mars - Episode Twenty Eight

   I was grabbed from behind by the man in black, pulling me off of Ponleak. He gave me a grave look and waved his index finger back and forth, indicating not to grab hold the Man from Mars again. Even if it was just a harmless hug.
   Ponleak, himself, acted as if I had intruded on his personal space. He brushed himself off, as if I had just laid a layer of dust on his clothing. Then he straightened his already perfectly pressed garments.
   "We need to talk." Ponleak said, staring into my eyes. "They have a lunch counter here, at this depot, with some booths where we can get something to eat and I can answer any of your question before you move on to your next destination."
   "Won't I miss my bus?" Is all I could think of saying.
   "Don't worry about it." He said, as if my question was a stupid one. "I believe, after we have our little conversation, that you will want to head off in different direction anyways. And besides, were you not traveling east to go look for me?"
   I was stunned by his question. So I asked him, "How did you know that?"
   "I believe it was William Cobbett who first wrote in 1820; that being able to put two and two together, ascertains that it makes four." Said Ponleak bluntly. "My friend here has been trailing you since I gave you the amulet. I can only assume by your predictability that you were on your way back to the lions den to come and see me. So I came to see you before the amulet fell into the wrong hands."
   "Okay, then tell me.....
   But Ponleak cut me off before I could finish my query. He pointed in the direction of the bus depot and we walked over to the grey colored building to find the soup kitchen.
   He was right. There were booths in the place, all situated near the back. None of them were occupied. It seems the clientele preferred sitting along the counter to eat their food. It wasn't until the waitress came out from the kitchen, that I knew why.
   It was surreal. It was a scene right out of Marilyn Monroe's movie called Bus Stop. The voluptuous curly blond hair woman. The nineteen-fifties memorabilia lying all around. The art deco look to the place. With Elvis Presley playing on the jukebox.
   Then, after I read the name of the place, above the Kitchen serving window, Grace's Diner, I finally figured out it was the theme they were looking for.
   There was a diner, at a Bus Stop, playing the characters from the movie of the same name.

   Yet, this is 2017 and who is going to remember an old movie from the nineteen-fifties called Bus Stop? But after watching some of the patrons googly-eyeing the waitress, I figured it didn't matter to them one bit.
   Ponleak picked up a menu and asked me to do the same.
   I know ventriloquism started hundreds of years ago on this planet, but when the Man from Mars used it to throw his voice so it sounded like it came from my Diner's menu, I nearly jump out of my seat.
   He calmly said, "Talk slowly, even tempered, and to the point. I will be able to hear you through my menu, as you can hear me from yours."
   "What about your friend here?" I asked. "Will he be part of the conversation?"
   "Tiny will be able to hear everything we say without holding a menu." Ponleak replied.
   Tiny, I thought. How ironic.
   I took a deep breath and tried to remember the thousands of question I thought I wanted to ask the Man from Mars. But right now, the only one that came to mind. "Why me?"

To Be Continued...

Next Thursday.

This is,

Excited About My Nielsen Ratings

Jim Hauenstein,

And,

“I've been on a calendar, but never on time.”
- Marilyn Monroe -

That is my story and I am sticking to it!

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