The three went inside. A dingy place, the interior of the filling station. Full of items. Behind, above, in front of the counter. Near the wall, against the wall. Rows of candy and cigarettes and car fresheners shaped like cats. Bubble gum and lighters and lighter fluid, Moon Pies and keychains and batteries. Cheap watches. Penlights. Car oil. Condoms. They sat on two car seats taken from long-dead cars across from a glass-topped cooler containing brown, orange, lemon, lime, and red-colored sodas in bottles and cans. Ice creams as well. In the corner perched a video game machine; a child flipped and popped the switches. A woman with greasy black hair like the mechanic’s sat at the counter reading True Confessions magazine and eating a banana.

“Now it is a miserable day, ain’t it, you all?” She eyed them brightly.

“You can say that again.” Ruth looked at her almost smiling, Jimmy noted, though not smiling.

“Where you all from?”

“Tims Creek.” Zeke was still peering at the rain through the dirt-streaked windows.

“Yeah? What brings you over this way?”

“Got a sick cousin over Fayetteville way.”

“He ain’t bad off, is he?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Zeke rubbed his hands. “He is.”

“Well, that’s a shame.” For a moment she stared forward with a blank look on her face. The only sounds were the falling rain and the game in the corner with its zapping, buzzing, and blaring.

“I think I’ll make us a pot of coffee.” The woman slapped her hands together the way a carnival barker would before asking you to step this way. “Care for some?”

“Why, yes, thank you.” Jimmy was genuinely glad, for though it was warmer inside, it was still cool.

“Yes, that would be nice.” Ruth again, surprised Jimmy. She looked at the little girl and the machine.

“What is that thing?”

“It’s a video game.” Jimmy was sure she was about to be vexed and demand the child quit keeping that fuss, but her face was placid, and her voice did not seem in any way annoyed. If anything, she was curious.

“It do make a lot of fuss, don’t it.” She leaned towards it.

They all sat in silence, watching the child play the game. The sound of the coffee machine was barely heard under the din.

“Well,” the woman said as she brought them cups of coffee, “I don’t particularly like it, but Amy, she’s pretty good at it.”

The girl turned to look at Ruth, and to Jimmy’s surprise, and without a doubt to Ruth’s, she winked at Ruth. At first Ruth was taken off guard. Then she smiled and sipped her coffee, closing her eyes. “That’s a mighty good cup of coffee, Miss. Thank you.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.”

“Oh, yes.” Jimmy reached into his pocket. “How much is it?”