The waitress continued. “Just say the word. And you’ll drink free. Let me know. ’Cause I know from sad, and you’re lookin’ pretty sad.”

And Jimmy was lookin’ pretty sad.

Tears were falling out of his eyes.

And snot was falling out of his nose.

But he didn’t realize either of those things were happening.

The waitress slapped some napkins in Jimmy’s hand, hoping he’d wipe his nose, and said, “Okay, well … I gotta get back to work, so…” She paused and gave him a chance to tell her that he wanted to drink for free. But Jimmy didn’t take the chance. “Okay,” she said, giving up on her sad customer. “Well, my name’s Villian, if you need anything. Just ask for Villian.”

And then she turned and left.

And Jimmy stopped breathing. And felt that strange lightness he had felt earlier—when he was about to walk into the Moose Paddy. And it made him feel like he had the glow of a thousand fired-up pellet stoves inside him. And like he had a thousand butterflies in his stomach. And he felt like he was levitating—even though he wasn’t.

He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

Had the waitress just said that her name was Villian?

Jimmy slowly lifted his head, dumbfounded, and watched the waitress walk away and called after her. “Villian?”

The waitress stopped and turned.

“Yeah?” she asked as she hustled back to Jimmy—who was just staring at her. “What’s up?” she asked.

Jimmy continued to stare at the waitress.

“You okay, pal?”

“Yeah. I would just like … another Bud. That I’ll pay for. Because I’m not sad.”

“All right.” Villian smiled and turned and was about to go get Jimmy another Bud.

“In fact I’m really glad right now!” called Jimmy.

“Okay,” said Villian, turning back to the guy with the hangdog eyes. And then she smiled and turned and made her way back to the front of the bar.

And Jimmy hollered to her again. “Villian!!!”

Villian stopped and turned to Jimmy. “What?!?” she asked, a little exasperated as she made her way back to him.

“I’ve just … I’ve never seen you. Before. Around.”

“Well, I just moved here. Couple weeks ago.”

“Oh.” Almost wasn’t a place people moved to. It was a place people left. But Villian had read in a Maine lifestyle magazine that Aroostook County was one of the best places for a fresh start. And she needed a fresh start.

Villian turned and went to get Jimmy his Bud, but as she did so, Jimmy stopped her again and yelled, “Villian!”

Villian stopped. Again. She was getting annoyed. “Dude, I’m workin’ here. What?!?”

“I’m just … I’m glad you found me.”

Villian screwed up her face and wondered if this “I’m glad you found me” business was some sort of newfangled pickup line. Half-charmed, she said, “All right.” And then she headed to the bar.

As she did, she mumbled, “I’m glad you found me,” to herself. And really hoped it was a pickup line.