A squawk came from her CB radio. “That you, K? Screaming your lungs out again?”

“Hey, Josh! How’d you know it was me?” Kathryn replied.

“Ain’t nobody else sounds that bad. You’re scaring away the cows!”

“Where the heck are you, Mr. Funny Man?” Kathryn called out.

“About two miles behind. Where you headed?”

“Have one stop and then taking my friend for a ride through the countryside.” Kathryn turned on her directional signal, indicating she was exiting the interstate.

“Now, that’s almost as funny as your singing! Ain’t no countryside to see no more.”

“Such a comedian. Be careful out there. Over and out!” Kathryn clicked off the CB. “There’s an app for my phone, but this is still easier to manage, and it doesn’t use up my data allotment,” she explained to Yoko.

“You live in a different world, for sure.”

“Oh, and yours is so normal.” Kathryn elbowed her. “Wait here. I’ll go tell the manager to open the loading dock.”

A few minutes later, Kathryn returned and pulled the rig to the back of the auto-parts distribution center.

“All this time, I forgot to ask what you are hauling,” Yoko said.

“Tires. Glamorous, huh?” Kathryn smiled. “I know a lot of people in the car-dealership, auto-replacement biz. That’s how I ended up coming out to Detroit so often. But not so much anymore.” She jumped from the rig and handed a clipboard to one of the dockworkers.

“Hey!” and “How ya doin’?” came from the workers.

Kathryn exchanged the same pleasantries. “Where do you want me to leave the trailer?” The arrangements usually called for her to unhitch the trailer and pick up another one to take goods back East, but this time she would deadhead home with just the cab of the truck. She knew that once they got a look at the property, she would need speed and flexibility on the return trip.

As soon as they freed the cab from the trailer, Kathryn took the clipboard back and jumped into the truck. Lots of waves and hollers followed.

“Nice people. Salt of the earth. Too bad many of them lost their jobs in the auto industry. But at least they’re still gainfully employed, I suppose,” she told Yoko. She maneuvered the cab onto the highway and headed to the truck stop. “Hungry?”

“Yes!”

“Excellent. You’re in for some good eats,” Kathryn shouted over the noise of the grinding gears and rolled up her window. Within a few minutes, they pulled into the truck stop.

“Rosie’s Diner? For real?” Yoko said with surprise.

“Wait until you meet her!” Kathryn chuckled. “C’mon. Home fries are waiting!”

They walked into what looked like something that had been frozen in time. The time was circa 1957.

“Wow. Look at this place. They even have jukeboxes in the booths.” Yoko was in awe.