The Sicilian Diner

Nov. 15, 1941

             It was a hard day, full of craps, blown-out guts, leftover metal, & bullet cases. The place bathes in heat that all cattle were dead, which made the famine worse. In the middle of town, there was a shabby resto that decided the winner. There were 4 men who went here. They wore unprocessed wool jackets that resemble cattle skins due to the heat mirages. They wore with the cuffs, & they wore them atop the shoulder.

             “Keith, can’t we just go to a nearby restaurant? It’s scorching here & I’m starving,” Benny said.

             “We’re in the middle of a job, Ben. We still need to keep our guard up,” Keith said.

             “What, you think we would stay here in the desert or something?”

             “We’re in a middle of a fuckin’ city. Of course, he’s going to be everywhe--”

             “And to not let our guard down. All right, all right.”

            …

             “Fine. You have extras, Benny?” Keith said. Two men are appearing before them.

             “Yeah, it’s enough. (He looks at the 2 men.) Harold & Simon are nearby.”

             “Hey, Ben,” Simon said.

             “Hey, Simon, how are you guys?” Benny said.

             “Lunch break. We can’t pick anything,” Simon replied.

             “Well, care to join us?” Keith said, “We’re out empty for the four of us. We want to dine here.”

             “Yeah, sure. Anything can do,” Harold said.

             Then they went inside this restaurant named The Sicilian Diner. It has a classic hanging moose head on the east side near the door. It has fragile 1890’s pine & juniper flooring & tables. Rumors were that it’ll close before New Year’s, due to lack of popularity. They went to the furthest from the sun’s light near the reception & they sat & ordered drinks.

             How's work?" Benny, with the iced tea, asked Harold.

             "Well, our superior is furious. A junior died because he said the Nippons invaded him on his base in Guam. I fuckin' told that kid to lay low on his info," Harold said with his ice-filled water.

             Keith asked, "What info, exactly? And is he from Fausto's division again?" 

             “Yeah, second strike. That cargo that kid’s holding is precious,” Harold replied.

             “Is it related to us, Keith?” Benny asked.

             “Maybe. But I know that the shrimps knew that their kid was our “delegate” against them, right?” Keith said.

             “Well, all because Fausto couldn’t move an inch ‘till he gets that bonus from Major Zimmerman. Why does Major still keep him?” Simon said with a soda can.

             Keith asked, “Fausto has info. He & the kid had connections?”

             Benny replied, “Yeah, all I know is that Major told Fausto that “they” could invade the East Coast an--”

             “Hush, Benny,” Keith remarked.

            …

             Simon said, “Well, since we’re here. Shall we order now?”

             “Sure,” Keith replied, then whistles to the waitress, “Ey. Can we have the menu, 4 copies? Thanks.”

               Harold then asked, “So, Keith, so how’re the soldiers in your camp?”

              Then, a waitress gives them menu cards. Benny started ordering food.

               Keith replied, “Well, we lose some, gain some, and nothing much has happened. London is going to be buried soon. And Churchill doesn’t give us the signal yet.”

               Harold replied, “Yeah, Londoners, what’s it called, the biltskirg--”

               “Blitzkrieg, Harold," Simon interjected.

               “Blitzkrieg. Right, right,” Harold agrees, “And how about the French troops, they’re doing fine, right?”

               “No replies from them, maybe they've already done,” Keith replied.

               Benny asked, “What do you mean?”

               Keith replies, “Invaded, it’s not yet clear for the higher-ups.”

               Simon stopped drinking & Benny grabbed a newspaper, without a word.

               …

               Keith then spoke, “Speaking of that word, it’s possible that it’ll happen here, if not carefu--”

               Harold looked at Keith, “Just say it. We might’ve known it already.”

               “We might have people who have “intelligence” that is against us.”

               Simon replied, “Yes, we know. We have received a similar report. General Windsor gave it to us. We just going to find him here according to the reports. Cicero, according to them, is the place where he--”

                “Help. Please. My child is starving,” as a couple carried a fat-less infant with them.

                “We violate anyone who asks for solicitations. It’s war, you dogshit. We ain’t have anything to get by,” said the owner as he is about to leave the place.

                “Please, at least, a spare change or a drop of water would suffice. For my kid, please,” as the man begs for mercy in front of the man. “Our landlord threw us, because of some news that our race might be a dang--”

                The owner looked at the couple & goes back to his shed. He brought out a gun & pointed at the child. It shocked everyone that almost half of the customers left the restaurant.

                “Yeah, the landlord is right. It’s because of you Japanese that my restaurant is closing. I’m losing investors, especially in the country you raped. You are better off dead at my hands, but since you’re starving, you might as well leave & die of hunger. Scram!”

                “No. NO. My nation wouldn’t do that. And we only need food to live another day. Please. Please tell they wouldn't do th--”

              “It’s true, kid. Your nation did something horrendous. Go, before a piece of metal goes through your head,” Harold confirms.

              “They wouldn’t do something that desperate for resources,” as the Japanese man wept that he fell once more to his feet. “No. NO. My child is dying. Now, I don’t even know that my country’s dying,” as he pats his head. “At least, give my child another day, he doesn’t know any of this.”

              “Then, we’ll fuck that kid’s brain before he has the chance to know anythi--”

              “Stop this, please,” as Benny interjected the owner’s gun. “Here, enough for a week,” Benny gave $20 to the man.

              “Thank you. Thank--”

              “What are you doing?” the owner said to Benny, he then points the gun to him.

              Keith intervened, “Ok. Stop the both of you. All right, if you’re blaming the business to them, we’ll take care of this right?”

              “As if I would do that,” the owner said.

              Harold spoke, “OK. If you want, we’ll double your losses between the time you lost a customer & war collateral ‘damage’. Is it a deal?”

              The owner never replied & threw the gun on the receptionist. “Fucking enemy sympathizers.” He then left the place. The couple with the baby also left thanking Benny.

              Then, a duo, with black leather jacket cloaks sat at the table beside them at Benny’s right. Then they just sat there, while the two waitresses come out with food.

              They served 2 chicken patties with a “special sauce” for Harold, Bratwurst Salad for Simon, Caesar’s Salad for Keith & baked bean soup with a chicken slice for Benny.

             “Isn’t it too much Benny?” Simon asks.

             “Well-budgeted. I chose this because it is confirmed by the owner, that’ll close before next year. So, it’s a bit cheap to entice customers. I’ve been here, it’s good.”

             “But this is chicken meat, grazed with a “special sauce” for God’s sakes man,” as Harold thanked Benny, “It’s just that meat is fuckin’ rare now, right? First, of all, I didn’t know that they have food like this in Cicero. And I didn’t know Keith’s a vegetarian.”

              “No, I’m not. I just rarely eat food like this,” Keith replies.

              All 4 of them ate silently. Simon looks at Benny for any signs.

             Then he asked, “So, how’s work, Benny. Getting in shape during the war. I heard; you’re enlisting as in the frontlines. What happened here?”

             Benny responded in a whisper, “Nothing much has happened here. And I need experience, knowledge, combat skills. I need to do something more than just being an agent. I’m joyful that I got enlisted in the army in the first place.”

            “Is there something wrong here?” Harold continued the conversation.

            “No, I’m glad I got to meet you, the Gould Division & the Fausto Division. I need, no, I want to serve the country more.”

            “That’s good. You know, that you’ll learn more about the country more, through the generals. About how they work. About their plans. If ever the world goes awry again. You have my support. But are you sure you’re going to take care of that information?”    

           Keith asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

           Simon replied, “I mean, you know, you said, someone is suspicious, might as well be… you know… care--”

           “Are you saying that Benny has something to do with this? Because it ain’t funny, Simon,” Keith said.

           “No, no, I was just…you know…careful…to avoid any mishap-“

          “And Benny’s got to do with this? Yes, he might’ve known something since we were both assigned the same thing. What about you, Simon? What are you going to do with the information if ever you got into the--”

          “All right, all right, sorry Ben--”

          “So, you do suspect him. Do you have the file with you? Because my file says, that you--”

          “What so, my file also says that I’m a--”

          “Will you please, calm down? The both of you?” Harold finally intervenes. “We’re having a peaceful lunch, and you’re going to ruin it by saying that the other is the key to America’s loss?”

           “Yes,” Simon pointed his gun at Benny. Keith to Simon.

           “Ok, we’ll sacrifice it,” Harold points his gun at Keith. Benny, with shaking hands, points his gun at Harold.

           “Oh, Benny. Oh, now something’s wrong,” Harold remarked & chuckled.

           Benny said, “H-H-Hey, back off.”

           Simon said, “No. You back off.”

           Keith said, “No. Stay the fuck off.”

           Benny said, “Now, guys. Please. I know this is shit & the war is still ongoing. But please let’s talk about it.”

           Simon said, “Now, Benny, you chicken?”

           Benny said, “Fu, no. I wanna fuk’n talk about it.”

           Harold said, “Nah, you look suspicious to me. Right, Keith?”

           Keith said, “What’s the meaning to this, Benny?”

           Benny said, “I wanna talk. If I fuckin know for sure, based on my report, it should be Simon.”

           Simon said, “Shut it, Benny. I’m sure it’s your geezer Keith should do the explaining.”

              Keith said, “I don’t fuckin’ know. But Benny’s right, we should fuckin talk. In my report, it matches Simon perfectly, for sure.”

              Simon said, “Ah, so that’s why your fuckin’ pissed now all the time with me, ain’t yah? I bet it's Ben here since you have a cover for him. Now talk, Benny.”

              Benny: “No, you talk, Simon.”

              “No, you talk, Keith,” Simon

              “Fuck no. I mean, fuck you both,” as Keith points his gun at both Harold & Simon. “How can you believe me? I can’t even believe every single one of you.”

              Harold said, “And fuck you both, as well. You should hope that you stay alive, help the others win the war, with you inside-out guts gobble you.”

              Keith asked, “Why, because I ‘matched’ there, by your i-don’t-give-a-fuck superior? Mr. Donkey Guy--”

              Simon tightened his grip on the gun. “It’s Gen. Ascheman. I have to report you imm--”

              “And escape the country,” Keith shot the floor twice & reloaded the 2 bullets.

 “As if I let you--"

             “I’m serious. What is on the files, anyway?” Benny asked. “You Simon may have my identifications, Keith may have Simon’s, Harold may have Keith’s, & I may have Harold’s… Is it true? Because if it is, I highly doubt that this is intentional. My theory is based on where you point your fuckin’ guns. Please, put them dow--”

            “If I were to follow you, traitor,” Simon snapped.

            Benny replied, “We don’t know that yet, I know as much as you do. Please.”

            “No letting our guns down during a war, you--”

            “Stop, Simon. Please.” Harold says. “I want to calm down as well. The descriptions for Keith are uncanny. Isn’t it that Simon’s descriptions are matchi--? Simon. Will you please put down the gun?”

            Keith points the gun against Simon, “Well, maybe he’s the one who needs to explain.”

           “Calm down, Keith,” Benny intervened. “If we lose our guard again, we’ll lose the chance to win the w--”

            Benny’s head exploded. The other 3 looked at the man behind to pull the trigger. The mysterious man shot Harold & Simon, who was closer. All dropped dead, two lied down, two on the tables, all dropped guns. All of the pine flooring & tables were soaked that the wood can’t evade its stupidity, & those who stepped on it. The gunman walked closer, stepped on Harold’s skull & crushed it.

             (In Japanese) “They’re fuckin’s slow. Maybe because they do not know that their superiors are dead & I sent them the reports. (To his assistant) Tell the lieutenant, the American intelligence are shit. Easy to infiltrate.”

               He gave the assistant a letter and left an instruction:

              (In Japanese) “Tell the army to prepare the bomb for the virgin harbor.”

             After the assistant leaves, the perpetrator shot himself in the head muttering: ‘All Hail Japan & His Majesty.”