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Nightmare Cafe Episode 07

“Little Soldier Boy”

By Furry Sith Lord

Touch that mouse and you DIE!!! Now that I have your attention here’s the deal: See these two people? A middle aged man and woman stand next to each other. The woman is wearing a pink waitress outfit and she has curly blond hair that extends to her shoulders. Her blouse is cut low and a hint of cleavage is visible. The middle aged man standing next to her has short dark brown hair and he wears a white cook’s outfit. This seems normal because they are standing in the middle of an old run down diner.

It could simply be a trick of the light because the interior is dimly lit. The floor looks to have dingy yellow faded tiles with brown trim. There is an old fashioned jukebox in the corner and the tables have the old turnstile to play music. An old television hangs on the wall at the end with two large knobs to adjust the picture.

A few fans hang from the ceiling but they slowly turn at irregular intervals. An exit sign hangs above the entrance of the cafe and the door is decorated in a traditional style made up of glass that had different colored triangles that clashed with each other.

That’s Frank and that’s Fay, two strangers that met and it turns out they have a lot in common. Both died on the same night, both ended up in the same body of water, and both took refuge in the same all night cafe. Me, I run the place, name’s Blackie. A man that is much older than Frank and Fay sits in one of the booths. He has a French style goatee and his hair is graying and extremely short. He smokes a cigar but the act of smoking it is just for show. It has no effect on him whatsoever. He appears to be looking at you directly as he speaks to you, narrating. Frank and Fay are completely oblivious to Blackie as he breaks the fourth wall.

Been here from the beginning. Now I know I said Frank and Fay are dead but the cafe needed a new cook and waitress so it gave them a second chance at life. They do their job and they get to stick around and help unsuspecting customers turn their lives around. Of course anything can happen to those who wander in. Their worst nightmares or their forbidden dreams. Yeah it all happens here, at a little place we call The Nightmare Cafe… Outside the cafe the words ‘All Night Cafe’ shine but the word ‘All’ suddenly darkens as the lights burn out and the word ‘Mare’ lights up behind the word ‘Night’ on the sign. Illuminating the words ‘Nightmare Cafe’ where once it read ‘All Night Cafe.’

Night settled over the city as the darkness brought a chill to the night air. All around dimly lit street lamps had small portions of the streets visible. Not that anyone would want to see them. The garbage and clutter tainted their once beautiful image.

A large burly African American man stood looking at a small door that had a sign that read All Night Cafe lit up. He could have sworn it was not there a second ago but he saw some lights turn on and he turned to his left to see it.

He was dressed as a soldier and he wore a metal World War two helmet on his head. He carried a flag that clung to his back as he stood watching the cafe. The flag was decorated to look like it was from South Africa.

See this guy here? Let’s call him Injin Joe. No he is not a real Injin and his name is not Joe either. It's Lester. But then if he can pretend to be a soldier then I can pretend that he’s an Injin. He first started pretending when he got hurt at work. He was put on permanent disability and given a free college scholarship. What did he do with it, you ask? He went to college and decided to play dress up about a place he’s never been and act like a people he knows nothing about. Just for attention.

The man started to walk towards the cafe and pushed open the door. He had a little trouble stepping inside because with his bulk and his flag he was wider than the door. Frank and Fay looked at each other as they saw him trying to enter and wondered what his story was.

They had been working in this cafe for around thirty four years and neither had aged a day. Both looked exactly the same as the night they died. In all their years of helping people they had seen many things. People with some of the strangest stories you could imagine. This guy by far seemed the strangest.

Frank walked into the kitchen and waited to see if this guy was going to order anything to eat. Fay approached him and smiled as he forced his way in and his eyes seemed to bulge as he settled himself.

“Can I get you anything? A cup of coffee?” She asked with her gentle voice almost sounding musical in her soft tones. He nervously nodded his head and she walked behind a counter that sat in front of a wall that had seats you would find in a diner. She took a cup and picked up a pot of black coffee and began to pour it into the cup.

“How would you…” Fay started to ask when the guy finally got up the nerve and began to loudly speak in the diner though it was completely empty inside.

“On behalf of da South African people I graciously enter dis establishment.” He said with his American Accent. Blackie walked up behind Frank and looked in at The man dressed as a soldier.

“What’s up with Injin Joe there?” Blackie asks Frank then before he responds he turns to you the reader. This should be good. He says, then turns his focus back on Frank.

“New customer it seems.” Frank said dryly. Something about the man made him feel very uneasy and he questioned if he should move into the dining area to protect Fay. The man seemed simple enough but Frank feared he could snap at any moment.

Fay looked startled but forced herself to smile as she cautiously approached him. He looked at the booths and realized that he would not fit so he instead sat at the counter. Fay made her way behind the counter and placed the coffee cup and saucer in front of him.

“I have no money because all money goes to helping my people of South Africa. To ease their suffering.” He whispered to her and her annoyance was obvious but she still forced herself to be courteous.

“Great just what the cafe needs, another deadbeat.” Blackie remarked.

“What does the cafe care?! It’s not like it has to pay for the food.” Frank replied. The cafe was a living entity that has a mind and will of its own. Frank and Fay never really understood how or why but just knew it as a living thing that seems to direct their lives and the lives of others.

“Like all people, even the cafe likes a little… gratitude.” Blackie remarked. Fay faked another smile and quickly thought of an excuse to appease the man.

“Help yourself after all it’s been sitting out all day. If you don’t drink it I’ll have to throw it out.” She said and the man nodded then looked for a stop to lean his flag against. He made sure it would not fall from the edge of the counter he leaned it against.

“Thank you,” he muttered.

“You mentioned South Africa.” Fay said, trying to make polite conversation as she tried to figure out why the cafe had brought him here. She knew no one enters unless the cafe was going to help that person in some way. Now if she could figure out what he wanted or needed.

“Yes it is my home.” He replied as he took a big sip of the coffee and Fay immediately refilled the cup.

“Your home? You on holiday or something?” Frank asked. The man shook his head and picked up a canister of sugar and poured a large amount into the coffee as Fay and Frank stared.

“I am a diplomat that was invited to attend the local college and see about opening paths so dat my people can come here and bring back da knowledge to make our home better.” He explained.

“Think of a cultural exchange program.” Blackie remarked sarcastically.

“Do I know you sir?” he asked and Blackie silently shrugged as he walked away as he finished smoking his cigar and he stamped it out in an ashtray. “My people are starving and I’ve been sent on a special mission to bring back anything to help them prosper. Knowledge, wealth, and technology are all things we need.” He explained as Fay listened intently.

“So why are you dressed as a soldier?” Blackie asked as he struck a match and lit a new cigar then puffed on it to get it started.

“I represent the struggle of my people.” He replied curtly.

“Ah,” Blackie said, then he turns to face you, the reader. He’s never heard of stolen valor, I guess. Black turns back towards the conversation.

“Well if there’s anything we can do to help.” Fay said then she saw Frank give her a dirty look. “What?” She asked Frank.

“”Can I see you in the kitchen for a for a moment?” He asked softly but his tone carried some anger to it. Fay walked into the kitchen where she and Frank whisper-shouted at each other.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Frank asked.

“Hello, our job.” She replied.

“You can’t be serious! He’s a deadbeat. If you offer him help then he’s gonna want money. You heard him.” Frank retorted.

“He’s right.” Blackie said suddenly as he appeared from behind them and leaned in close to whisper.

“Then why is he here? She objected. “People don’t just show up for no reason. The cafe wants to help him and we need to find out how and why.”

“She’s Right.” Blackie said in the same mocking tone as before. They glared at him and he backed away and disappeared again.

“So what do we do?” Frank asked.

“I dunno, I just wish I knew how to help him.” She said then her body flashed with a crackle of static and she vanished as the cafe granted her wish.

“Oh no,” Frank muttered as he looked around and realized he was alone with the guy in the cafe.

In the main dining area the television suddenly turned on by itself and the sound of old fashion television dials were turning as if changing the channels on the television. This caught the attention of the guy and he approached the television when he saw the inside of his apartment displayed on the screen.

Fay suddenly appeared as she materialized inside the apartment. Her clothes changed as she now wore an expensive looking white blouse and short skirt. She had high heels on and a slim white handbag. Around her neck was a gorgeous pearl necklace.

She stumbled as she took a step while looking around. The man’s eyes opened wide as he continued to watch her on the television.

It was difficult to see because the place was almost pitch black except for a little light from a window provided very little light inside.

“I’ll never get used to that.” She said, Inside the apartment Fay adjusted herself as she fixed her high heels. She took another step and almost knocked over a lamp stand but caught it in time and turned the lamp on.

She saw how cluttered the place was with papers tossed all over the place. A lamp stand next to the lamp was cluttered with envelopes. She picked one up and saw that it was addressed to a Lester Keys on the address line.

“Lester Keys? Guess I'm not in Kansas anymore. “ She said and then tossed the envelope back on the stand. She saw a recliner that had an opened book on it. There was no television so it looked as if Lester spent all his time reading.

She picked up the book and glanced at it, noticing that it was a library book. The date in the back showed that it was five years overdue.

She closed the book and read the title ‘The History of South Africa.’

“What are you up to, Lester?” She asked herself.

Back in the cafe, Lester and Frank stood watching the television. They watched as Fay examined the book in the apartment.

“Any of this look familiar?” Frank asked.

“No.”

“None of this? This isn't your place, Lester?” Frank asked incredulously.

“Why do you call me dis? My name is not Lester. It is Prince Abdul DeLyon.” He replied firmly. Frank leaned closer to the television and saw the author's name on the book cover. ‘The History of South Africa’ by Abdul DeLyon.

“Abdul huh,” Frank said.

“Yes.” Lester replied.

“Do you know anyone named Lester Keys?”

“Never heard of him. Now what is dis about?” Lester asked furiously.

“Helping you.” Frank muttered. The television turned itself off and a second later Fay appeared with a crackle of static in her waitress outfit.

“What did I miss?” Fay asked Frank. He put his hands around her waist and guided her over to Lester.

“Fay, have you met our customer, Abdul DeLyon. Frank said and Fay smiled as she remembered reading the name on the book.

“Abdul, it's a pleasure to meet you.” She said knowingly. She remembered the name from the library book. She turned and saw Frank smiling at her as if he was reading her thoughts.

“Well I must be going.” Lester said as he picked up his flag and prepared to leave.

“So soon? How about another cup of coffee?” Fay asked. He waved her off as he walked out of the cafe.

What kind of an accident would make a person forget who they are and trade identities with some author they read? To live a life about a people that exist only in his imagination. Sure South Africa and her people exist, but not in the way that Injin Joe thinks they do.

Lester Keys shivered as he walked the empty streets. It had gotten colder now that the sun had gone down. His boots echoed as he walked on the sidewalk. He was used to this and did not even hear it as he continued.

A couple of gang members turned to stare at him as he walked by. They noticed his army uniform and the flag that he was carrying. They laughed and questioned his sanity until someone suggested that it might be an insult to them. This made them stare more and a couple had their hands on their guns and knives.

They wondered if he had any idea how close he was to losing his life? Lester was completely unaware as he finally reached his apartment building. He climbed the stairs because the elevator had been broken for years and no one ever bothered to get it repaired.

He walked up to his door and ignored the posted letters with warning of his rent being overdue. A Large letter sat in the middle that said Notice of Eviction. He tried to use his key but it would not fit in the lock for some reason.

He tried to force the key in but it would not fit then his eyes fell on the eviction notice. He wondered what he should do when his eyes saw a man in a wheelchair approaching his own door and unlocked it.

“Excuse me sir, can you help me?” Lester called out his him from behind. The man never turned around to address him.

“Get lost ya deadbeat! They evicted you because you didn’t pay the rent. No free handouts here. There must be some sucker out there that promised to help you.” He said then he entered the apartment and slammed the door behind him after he pushed his wheelchair inside.

The disguise fell away from the man to reveal that it was Blackie. He rose from the wheelchair. He turned and looked at the ceiling as Fay and Frank watched hi on the television in the cafe.

“It’s a miracle! I can walk.” He mocked.

In the cafe, Fay and Frank watched as Blackie smiled mockingly at them as they watched him on the television screen.

“OK boys and girls, one is headed your way.” He said then the television turned itself off.

“Now what are we supposed to do?” Fay asked Frank. There was a little sound of crackling static and Frank found a pamphlet on the counter that had not been there before. He picked it up and read it then passed it onto Fay and she read it.

A record slid out from the collection in the jukebox onto a silver plated platter and it was raised to the needle ready to play it.

Leaves from the vine,

falling so slow

Like fragile tiny shells drifting in the foam.

Little soldier boy,

come marching home

Brave soldier boy,

come marching home

Lester enters looking around nervously and Fay casually approaches him while holding a pot of coffee.

“Welcome back,” She says, smiling friendly.

“You said you could help me.” He said.

“Yes, what do you need?” she asked. She had Frank had rehurst what they were going to do once he returned. Frank stood in the kitchen and appeared to be cleaning a glass as he watched.

“Enemies of my people have locked me out and stolen my home

“Oh no, that sounds awful.” Frank said unconvincingly.

“Maybe we can help,” Fauy said as she put down the coffee pot and grabbed Lerster’s arms gently. Her touch sent a little shiver along his arms. “Can you think of a place? Any place that you ‘wish’ to go?” She looked at him coyly as she and Frank waited for his answer.

“I wish… I wish… I was back in South Africa.” He said and Lester’s body crackled with static as he instantly disappeared. Fay and Frank knew the cafe had granted his wish and went to the television expecting him to be overjoyed at being sent home.

With a crackle of static, Lester looked around as he materialized on a dusty road in the western part of South Africa. He was still dressed in his army uniform and carrying his flag. He heard a noise and saw three jeeps heading his way on the road.

“Stop, stop!” He shouted in English as they approached. The grinding sound of breaks was heard as they pulled over and Lester ran over to them. Soldiers sat inside the jeeps and they stared at him. Their uniforms looked nothing like what he was wearing.

“He looks like a clown.” one of the soldiers remarked to the others. He spoke in IsiZulu which was one of the major twelve languages spoken there. It was also one of the most common but Lester had no idea what he said. Lester smiled as the other soldiers laughed and he wanted to be part of the group.

“Can you help me? I have important message to give to the embassy.” He said in English. They looked confused at what he was saying except a lieutenant said in the passenger seat up front and he knew English.

“My brutha, what is dis important message you need to deliver?” He asked after quieting the others so he could hear him clearly.

“I’ve come home and need to report my findings.” Lester replied.

“Who are you, friend?” The lieutenant asked.

“Abdul DeLyon!” Lester replied and suddenly the soldiers jerked in their seats. A couple suddenly pointed AK 47s at him and cocked them showing they were ready to shoot. Lester raised his hands and backed away slowly.

“Fire.” The lieutenant said in IsiZulu and the soldiers opened fire. His uniform did nothing to stop the torrent of bullets that struck him. In mere seconds he looked as if he had gone through a meat grinder as what was left of him fell to the ground.

“They shot him?!” Fay asked incredulously. This made Blackie laugh loudly while Frank shook his head.

“Yeah, you see there is something that both Injin Joe and our dear Fay missed in the apartment.” He said then he pulled out a copy of the library book titled ‘The History of South Africa.’ He opened it to the author’s not and showed it to them.

“Our dear friend, Abdul DeLyon, escaped from Africa because he was declared to be an enemy of the people. His books spread misinformation about what South Africa was really like and put it in such a bad light. The government officials had him arrested and nearly killed him except he managed to escape with the help of a few of his supporters. Had you read the author’s note then you would have known that.” Blackie explained and they stared at him.

“Then why the pamphlet? Why were we encouraged to send him to South Africa?” Fay asked.

“It was Karma for stiffing the cafe on the tab. Remember that I told you even the cafe likes a little gratitude every now and then.” Blackie replied.

“Then it was a set up.” Frank asked and Blackie shrugged.

“Anyway to the business at hand.” Blackie said as he led Fay and Frank to the entrance of the cafe.

After all, this story was never about Injin Joe but about our hero and heroine Fay and Frank. After thirty some plus years of helping people, the cafe has decided to promote them to upper management.

“We’ve been together now for thirty two years now and you have both done an amazing job. It has been decided that you will be promoted.” Blackie explained. He opened the entrance and outside instead of the usual scenery was a place of bright white light that was so blinding it was difficult to see. He then scurried behind them and pushed them closer towards the door.

“So that’s it? We’re going up?” Frank asked. Fay and him took hands both trying to calm their nerves as they realized what this meant to them. Fay squeezed Frank’s hand tightly.

“You bet. Oh and give my best to Adolf Hitler for me.” Blackie laughed and pushed them both through the door as confusion and fear spread across their faces before they vanished. Small dust particles fell away from Blackie and suddenly his body broke apart and vanished into dust. All the lights in the cafe turned off and the place was in complete blackness.

See boys and girls, the reason why the cafe needed Frank and Fay was that from their subconscious it gave this place, and me, the appearance you’ve seen. With them gone we have two new staff openings and a chance that the new Help will lighten this place up. How about you? Want to join us?

The lights suddenly turned on and the inside of the cafe was brighter than ever. Everything looked brand new, except for a couple of things. The upholstery was brand new as well as the seats and the booths. The floor times were now gleaming white with blue trim instead of the previous brown.

The old television that hung on the wall was replaced with a brand new sixty six inch plasma television. The old jukebox remained they it had a newer appearance to it. A record slid out and began to play.

I'm in heaven

And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak

And I seem to find the happiness I seek

When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek

The new front entrance opened and a woman that was completely covered by a raincoat entered. The coat hid her face from view and she was soaking wet.

“Hello? Are you open?” She asked as she shouted out but did not see anyone inside.

Seems we have our first applicant! What will she face? Her wildest dreams or… her worst nightmares. You just have to wait and see. In a little place we call…

Outside the cafe the words ‘All Night Cafe’ shine but the word ‘All’ suddenly darkens as the lights burn out and the word ‘Mare’ lights up behind the word ‘Night’ on the sign. Illuminating the words ‘Nightmare Cafe’ where once it read ‘All Night Cafe.’

The Nightmare Cafe…