The chrome diner stools squeaked as trucker Pete settled in after an all-night haul. Lisa, the morning shift waitress who still polished her name tag daily, approached with fresh coffee.
“What’s good today, darlin’?” Pete rasped.
“Everything but the tires,” Lisa shot back automatically.
Pete’s eyes twinkled. “In that case, I’ll take a fan belt, two pistons, and a windshield wiper.”
Lisa blinked, then caught on. She delivered scrambled eggs, bacon, and orange juice with a side of mischief – a tiny cup of syrup. “For your fluid levels,” she whispered.
The trucker’s guffaw made the coffee cups rattle. “You’re a natural!” he crowed, leaving a tip bigger than his check. Word spread fast along the interstate about the diner with the quick-witted waitress, proving sometimes the best service comes with a spark plug joke and a smile.
