It was around midnight but I knew they were still open. I stood before a wide store with a neon red and yellow sign above it. It was Sushi Palace. Open 24 hours. As I approached I noticed the usual cars parked by the front doors. When I entered the store, the ring of the door bell drew the attention of a worker behind the bar and a customer who turned to look at me. The worker greeted me with a smile and gestured to a bar stool near the other customer.
I politely nodded and took my seat. The inside of the bar was warmed by the slightly orange lights above.Along all the walls were clutter and pictures. A lot of pictures were of people who grew up here all getting along like a big family. A few of their faces I even recognised. A quick thought of wondering if any of them were in a better place now ran through my mind for a brief second. A slight temptation to go searching records to find out. But that wasn’t my job right now. I’m sure I will find out if I come across them naturally. I just pray they don’t find me like this.
When looking at the surroundings I panned back over to the customer I sat near. Their eyes hadn’t left me as he spoke with a friendly smile, “What’s the occasion?”
I looked over confused for a moment at them. They were a snake nonferal with thin pupils that looked me up and down. They wore more casual clothing than I did as I realised what he meant.
I tried to respond just as nicely in return, “Oh the suit you mean? It’s my uniform. I’m off from work at the moment.”
The snake chuckled some before taking a sip of his drink, “You get off work and go to a place like this at midnight? Still a bit strange of ya.”
The worker took my order as I saw the snake out of the corner of my eye. He had the same roll I had ordered. The long line of rolls however disgusted me. He picked up a pair of chop sticks and looked over at me yet again, “You know I don’t see other snakes around here enough. Are you from around here?”
“No. I’m from Italy. I moved here for the job and pay. I just like to try new things.”
He scoffed while picking up three of the rolls at once, “In Wickerwoods? Huh, you would think you would get a better pay somewhere in BlairView. No offence but you look like you were dressed for work there. Maybe even live there.”
He almost goes to eat his food and shows his lack of teeth. Only two fangs folded back. But I interrupted him, “What about you? Any reason you’re here at midnight? This town isn’t exactly known for it’s safety at night.”
He lowers the food to respond, “Me and my sister used to go to a sushi place like this as a kid. Sometimes that craving hits pretty late at night. Other than that I’m usually out on the west side of town giving tours and selling gift shop garbage to tourists in the day. Lot’s of conspiracy theorists lately though. I guess that’s what the town gets for being so eerie at night with the thieves and all.”
I tried to think of another question but it was too late. He ate like a snake. Without chewing he downed the three rolls in one gulp. I didn’t mean to stare but luckily he didn’t seem to care anyways.
He spoke up again after another couple of rolls, “Sorry, I couldn’t help but notice that rash on your upper lip and neck. Do you not do any skincare for those scales?”
I replied, “I do but just some gel pads really.”
Now he seemed a hint concerned, “You should really invest in a heat lamp or a jacket man. The atmosphere here is brutal in winter. Especially if you already have rashes like that, your molt is going to break apart around there and be a pain to get off. Even worse get infected if you’re not careful.”
I quietly nodded as my plate of food was set in front of me alongside a pair of chop sticks. My eyes now stayed locked onto the rolls in dread as he kept talking to me, “It’s quite a bit colder here than the other towns because of all the shade. Though what part of Italy did you come from? I heard some part of it get really cold too.”
I didn’t reply as I went to eat my food. He patiently waited to not interrupt my meal. He was polite but I was nothing like him no matter how hard I tried.
I was hunched over a railing that looked over a small ditch as any bit of my meal I tried to eat was now in the gravel. With a sore throat and watery eyes I was now able to breathe again. I kept taking deep breaths. He was saying something beside me but I missed it. It didn’t matter anymore.
That night I tipped the chef half the order’s value. I gave apologies to them both before walking back home in silence down the empty streets. As usual I slowed down by the same store with the dragon jacket. Though all I could see were cold metal shutters. The image was still clear enough in my head of it sitting on the other side right out of view.
Before it got too late and after I was done coughing from the sore throat, I made it back to the lodge. Rosey’s white noise machine masked any sound I could have made as I got back in bed. Yet again the feeling of rest was alien to me but mandatory. It seemed like the sun came up immediately. But my eyes were crusted. It must have been such a sudden sleep that I hardly noticed it. So I was right back up on my feet to start breakfast.