The Breakfast Club

Sherman looked up and greeted Earl warmly. "Good morning, Earl. It is great to see you. We all missed you yesterday," he remarked, speaking in an earnest manner while nibbling on his appetizer.

Sherman’s presence always brought an air of familiarity and camaraderie to the group. He had earned the title of “leader of the pack” over the years

He was always up early and one of the first folks to breakfast. As one of the oldest and most talkative members, he had lived in the neighborhood for years. He seemed to be friends with everyone.

“How’s Shirley doing? Will she be joining us this morning?” Sherman asked.

“Shirley is doing well and heading over now. On her way in, she bumped into some of her friends and found herself drawn into their chatter. You know those ladies---once they get to jabbering, it is hard to get them to stop,” Earl chuckled.

“Also, Shirley and I decided to check out the new eating place by the old Jones' place yesterday, but it was disappointing. The servings were much smaller than what we get here, and the ambiance was not the best.”

The locals loved living here in Cedar Bluff. The town was charming and small, yet full of things to do and places to explore. There were plenty of excellent places to eat. New dining establishments were opening annually, but he and his friends were creatures of habit. If they found a place they liked, they would stick with it.

As Sherman and Earl caught up, more friends and neighbors arrived. Shirley talked with her group in the corner, while Marge and Joe quietly sat on the ledge. The couple usually kept to themselves.

The dining area was soon abuzz with conversation as guests, both new and returning, arrived. Sherman and his friends extended cordial greetings to everyone. Discussions and laughter proceeded amicably among the group.

The dining spot was once a hidden gem that not many new about, but word was spreading quickly about the good eats here. Business was booming.

 Sherman glanced up to see the Peters family entering and waved a kind Hello. They had been coming here to eat for a year or so now, and they were finally opening up to everyone. They were a nice family.

They had a large family of six and Mrs. Peters was expecting again. Their clan was growing rapidly. The little ones were adorable but quite shy and stuck closely to Mom and Dad’s side. The family always quickly finished their meal and hopped out just as quickly. They never stuck around too long.

The patrons engaged in cordial conversation as they awaited their meals. The restaurant offered a straightforward yet well-executed menu with limited variation. However, the portion sizes were very generous, and the service remained consistent, dependable, and friendly.

And dining out on the patio was so enjoyable in this nice weather. It was always such a wonderful start to the day.

At that moment, Jack and Marge came in from the kitchen carrying the breakfast platters. “Good morning, everyone. Sorry we kept you waiting!”

“We’ve got an even bigger crowd this morning than we had yesterday,” Marge said to Jack with excitement. “We’ll definitely need to start buying more food.”

Jack smiled and set out the food, nodding to Sherman and Earl, his usual first-in-line friends.

“Have a great breakfast everyone!” Jack exclaimed, as he and Marge made their way back into the kitchen.

They were so proud of what this small venture had become for them. Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that she would follow in her Grandparent’s footsteps and have this breakfast café.

“So, what do you imagine they are all chattering about out there?” Marge asked Jack.

“God only knows,” Jack grinned.

“I’ll go get more birdseed, peanuts, corn, and mealworms—we’re almost out,” Jack said. “Don’t want them upset if we miss a day of feeding.”

Serving breakfast to all the outside critters had become such a wonderful start to the day that they could not imagine a morning without it. It brought great peace and tranquility.

The two of them often joked that they had the “best breakfast buffet in town.” Little did they know that the critters actually all agreed with that.

Marge stated, "I now fully understand the reasons behind Grandma’s doing this all those years."

“Me too!” Jack agreed, as he put his arm around Marge as they watched their furry and feathered friends enjoy their breakfast.