The Road to Glory by Blayne Cooper, T Novan Page B

bottom with her towel as he once again darted for RJ. "And don’t you be giving that boy any cigarettes, Ruth Jean."
    "Yes, ma’am!" RJ mumbled a few grumpy words to herself and climbed back in the truck as Tony jumped in the passenger side.
    RJ waited until out of sight of Mrs. Amos’ house before she offered Tony a cigarette.
    He looked pathetically gratefully. "Thanks." He lit the tip then and rested his elbow out the window as he took a deep drag. Tony exhaled with a happy sigh, his expression turning thoughtful. "How come we can go down to the diner?"
    "Huh?" RJ’s eyes slid sideways.
    "The diner?" Mrs. Amos had tried to explain this all, but it still didn’t make any sense to Tony. "How is it we can go back and forth to the diner, which is outside Glory, and we’re dead. And some folks who are alive can go to the diner but not Glory. Like the blonde."
    "Excuse me?"
    Tony shrugged. "Everyone knows you’re banging her like a screen door in a hurricane."
    The tall woman began to choke on the smoke from her cigarette. Coughing, she glared at Tony with astonished eyes.
    "Well, you are, aren’t you? Either that or someone in that bathroom was in some serious pain and found religion all at the same time." Tony’s eyes glazed over. "Nothing wrong with it, you know. She’s damn cute. And what a great ass! If I thought she’d let me –"
    "Don’t even think about it," RJ warned, her eyes watering from her hacking. She shook her head fiercely. The back of her throat stung and she coughed again, using the time to collect her scattered thoughts. The boy’s bluntness had thrown her for a loop.
    RJ tossed her cigarette out the window. "One: I’ll thank you not to be saying things like that about Ms. Matthews. She’s a very nice woman."
    Tony grinned. "What I saw was very nice."
    RJ smacked him on the back of the head. "Two: Wipe away that thought right now, Romeo. "
    "Hey!" Tony rubbed the spot.
    "She’s too old for you by ten years." RJ smirked. "Though your lack of facial hair would probably work in your favor."
    Tony scowled and self-consciously rubbed his baby-smooth cheeks. "Some women appreciate a clean-shaved face," he muttered defensively.
    "Assuming you actually need to shave."
    "I shave!" Okay, once a month. But that counts!
    Not believing Tony’s protest for a second, RJ continued by saying, "Three: there’s no need for you to be so … so … vivid with your language. Especially about something that is none of your business."
    Tony looked to his sneakers and then to RJ, giving her his best puppy dog face. "I’m sorry."
    RJ lifted an eyebrow at the teen.
    "Okay, I’m sort of sorry."
    "Better."
    "I didn’t mean to upset you, RJ." He stuffed his cigarette in the truck’s ashtray, searching for the words it would take to get himself out of hot water. "It’s just that you’re so laid back, it didn’t seem serious between you and –" He paused. He was beginning to stumble over the words and feel stupid, which he hated. "I’m sorry."
    RJ exhaled slowly. "Look, lad, we can talk about anything. But you need to show a little respect, especially when it comes to Ms. Matthews." She reached out and massaged the spot on the back of his head where she’d smacked him. "Lucky for me you finally decided to wash that hair. Or my hand would be slipping right off your head."
    "Ha. Ha. Very funny." He crossed his arms over his chest but couldn’t help crack a smile. RJ was pretty cool.
    "Just watch what you say from now on."
    "Yes, ma’am." The last word was an effort, but not as much as he thought it would be.
    "Now in answer to your original question. The diner is sort of … well…" She scratched her chin. Even after all these years she could never really came up with a good answer to this question. "It’s a place that exists between the two realms of life and life after life. Think of it as a spiritual bus station. Only with onion rings." She chuckled at her own joke, vowing to use that again with the next