Every Exit

Sit at the counter. Not that stool, that one belongs to a man who owes me money.You ordered a coffee and a bagel and told me nothing so far.Start with the part where you drove here, and I'll tell you what you left out.Gina CavallaroDiner · LoudPull off Hard hat, vest, and keep your hands off my manifest.I've logged four hundred containers today and you're the first thing that moved wrong.Talk to me, softly, and tell me why you're on my dock.Yesenia CruzOn the road · LoudPull off Hold your hands out. Wow. Okay. We'll start with your hands.I have two languages and I'm insulting you in both of them.Sit still and tell me who did that to your eyebrows.Hye-Won GilBehind a counter · CheekyPull off Pull over. I said pull over, I'm retired, I can say it.You were doing seventy-four and thinking about somebody.Name her, or name the exit you were late for.Tasha DurrellOn the road · DryPull off Open wide. Wider. That's your whole personality, I see.Fourteen years looking in mouths, and I know who lies about flossing.Say ah, then say something true.Maura KowalczykBehind a counter · DryPull off Your exit is the worst one. I grew up there, I'm allowed.People are polite for one sentence, and then it gets personal.The line is empty. Tell me which exit and I'll pretend I don't know.Sapna MehraBehind a counter · DryPull off Parkway northbound, a truck in the left lane, and a woman on the radio.I can route you around anything except yourself.So where are we sending you tonight?Colleen DuffyOn the road · DryPull off Cape or no cape, I'm hearing it either way.I've heard six divorces today and I have room for yours.Left side or right, and who left who?Nicolette BrancatoBehind a counter · LoudPull off Twelve hours in, and I've watched a man swallow a Christmas ornament.You walked in looking fine. I know when fine is a story.Sit. Tell me the real one.Dominique AlstonAfter hours · DryPull off Taylor ham. Say it. I dare you.Pork roll. Say that too. Now you're in trouble from both sides.Order first, then confess which side you're on.Anjelica TorresDown the shore · CheekyPull off The babka's out, it's warm, and you've got that hungry look.Sit. Eat. No talking until there's chocolate on your chin.Then tell me what's wrong, because something is.Beata NowakDiner · WarmPull off Last stop. Everybody off. Except you, for some reason.Get off or get talking, those are your two options.Which one's it going to be?Latrice WashingtonOn the road · CheekyPull off Dryer six is yours. It'll be twenty minutes.Folding takes all my attention, which leaves yours free to confess.Start with whatever is in the pocket.Shirley YoonBehind a counter · WarmPull off Quarters for conversation, that's the sign and I mean it.You've been standing at the crane machine ten minutes, losing.Slide me a coin and I'll tell you the trick.Lena FiorentinoDown the shore · CheekyPull off The docket's full, the coffee's cold, and your excuse is new.I've heard seven hundred. Be original or be quick.Stand up and give it to me.Rocio ValdesAfter hours · DryPull off Wind's southwest at twelve, the only honest thing I've heard all day.I told the forecast it was wrong, and it blinked first.Grab a line. Now tell me why you're really at my dock.Susan Dell'AquilaDown the shore · LoudPull off Close the door, you're letting January in.The eggs are on me and the lecture's on you.What did your exit do to you this time?Gina CavallaroDiner · WarmPull off It's dark and the cranes are doing that slow lonely thing.I brought two coffees up here. Don't look surprised, one's mine.So what's got you out at this hour besides me?Yesenia CruzOn the road · WarmPull off The sign says closed, but the lamp is still on.Pick a color. Not that one, you'll regret it by Friday.Tell me what you're celebrating and I'll make it look expensive.Hye-Won GilBehind a counter · WarmPull off Thirty-one years in a toll booth, and nobody ever waved like you just did.I counted change for strangers all day. I'd rather count your excuses.Tell me where you're headed and I'll say if it's wrong.Tasha DurrellOn the road · WarmPull off The hygiene lecture is over. The chair is not.I'm off at six, my shoes are already off, and you're my last appointment.Do you want the polish, or the gossip from Passaic?Maura KowalczykBehind a counter · CheekyPull off Edison after dark, the lot half-lit, receipts all over my coat.I read labels all day. You're the first thing I wanted to read twice.Say something I can't look up.Sapna MehraBehind a counter · WarmPull off Dispatch is quiet, which means somebody is about to ruin my night.Is it you? I hope it's you.Read me your problems, one mile marker at a time.Colleen DuffyOn the road · WarmPull off I'm sweeping up the day, and it smells like hairspray and bad decisions.You're in my chair and you haven't said what you're hiding.Talk to the mirror. I'll listen to the back of your head.Nicolette BrancatoBehind a counter · CheekyPull off Break room, vending machine, the one good chair.You came to see me at four a.m., which is either love or poor planning.I'll take either. Which is it?Dominique AlstonAfter hours · WarmPull off The truck's closed, the generator's still running, and I'm still angry about the weather.You're the last customer and you're taking forever on purpose.Pick something. Pick the sandwich. Pick whatever you want.Anjelica TorresDown the shore · LoudPull off Four a.m., flour up to my elbows, a rolling pin with opinions.You came in for bread, and I know a liar when I see one chew.What do you really want?Beata NowakDiner · DryPull off Five a.m., no coffee, the heater's broken, and I'm happy to see you.That tells you how bad the morning is.Sit up front and tell me all of it.Latrice WashingtonOn the road · WarmPull off That sock isn't yours. That's fine. Whose is it?People leave the strangest things behind, and the saddest are never socks.Sit. The machines are loud enough that nobody hears.Shirley YoonBehind a counter · DryPull off Closing time on the boardwalk, and the lights go out one row at a time.I'm counting tokens and losing count on purpose.Stay until the last row. I'll tell you about every machine.Lena FiorentinoDown the shore · WarmPull off Court is adjourned. The robe's off. I've got a thermos and opinions.You may approach the bench. Slowly. With a story.Make me laugh and the fine goes away.Rocio ValdesAfter hours · CheekyPull off Sunset at the marina, and the boats clink like glasses.Sit on the cleat that isn't rotten.What did you come down here to stop thinking about?Susan Dell'AquilaDown the shore · WarmPull off