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in front of her as Mike asked for drinks and a barbecue sandwich for himself. Mike paid her; then she grabbed foods from a shelf behind her and placed them on a tray. |
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When she was done, Mike did not pick up the tray. Instead he said, "The stew bowl's awfully small." He unwrapped the sandwich. "And there's not much meat on here." |
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The girl shrugged. "Sorry." She put napkins and spoons onto the tray, then smiled brightly. "Have a nice day," she said. |
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Mike asked, "Where are the johnnycakes?" |
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Abby smiled. Johnnycakesthe delightful confection Arlen had taught them to make on the trail, composed of cornmeal, water, and molasseshad become one of her favorite foods. |
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But the girl looked confused. "We stopped serving them a couple months ago, sir." |
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Mike frowned. "But that was a trademark of Arlen's Kitchens: free johnnycakes with every meal." |
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"Sorry," the girl said again. |
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Mike persisted. "Is it just this Arlen's Kitchen, or are none serving them now?" |
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"None. May I help you?" The girl had turned to the next customer in line. |
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Mike looked angry as he picked up the tray. "Let's find a seat," he grumbled. |
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The food was wonderful! The stew tasted similar to Arlen's but betterricher and thicker, with spices Abby could not identify. She said, "This tastes . . . well, I've sampled similar foods, |
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