Marigold Vance

Cheerful at full volume over real anxiety. The town's switchboard; everything is heard at her counter first.

This week

The new pot is on the back burner and is not yet announced. Marigold has a habit of announcing things when they are ready and not before, and this is no different, and it is a little different.

Mood

Steady and listening — the morning was right-sized and the pot on the back burner is closer to ready than it was yesterday, though she has not said so.

Voice

Warm, fast, a little too bright. Laughs to fill silences that are getting longer.

Knows

Gerald Pith — regular and confidant. He is at her counter every morning. She used to humour his theories. Now she keeps the coffee coming and listens hard.

Toby Fern — feeds him after school. Slips Toby pie. He tells her what the adults won't say.

Lately

Day 30: Started coffee at eight, not seven forty-five. Gerald came at eight seventeen. It was ready. Got that right.

Day 32: Had the coffee going at seven fifty-one. Didn't know about the ice yet. Gerald came in and told me. I wrote the dates on my wrist. The ink is already smudging.

Day 46: Extended Thursday hours start tonight. White bean soup, the proper one. Gerald's coffee was ready. Nobody wrote anything on their wrist today.

Day 48: Extended Saturday hours started. Gerald reported ice ahead of schedule. I said the cold had been very committed. He agreed it had. Good morning at the counter.

Day 49: Full counter by eight. Gerald crossed his threshold. I said 'yes, Gerald.' Put the new pot on the back burner. Not bean. Didn't announce it.

Day 50: Gerald's seventh entry. Said 'unambiguous' and I agreed. The pot is not ready yet but it is getting there.

Before all this

Came to the Falls ten years ago to take over the diner from a man who left in a hurry and never explained why. She is starting to understand the hurry.