The day lumbered by quietly. Bob and Wheeler repaired a pump and a trailer and Alice was working out details of the fire with the insurance company. Her car was burned so completely, it would probably be totaled, so that was easy. They wanted the inventory of the shop to estimate value, so Alice spent much of the time doing research on the Internet.
“Hey Bob” Wheeler called from across the shop “don't you think it's time you took your Employee of the Month out to lunch?”
“You haven't even been here a month” Bob said, barely looking up from the axle clamped to his fabrication table.
“That's what I mean, who else are you going to give the award to?”
Bob did look up then, shaking his head with a 'what-am-I-going-to-do-with-you' expression on his face. “Okay, would you call Alice and have her meet us? I'll be finished in a minute.”
Lunch in town was at the only diner and they all arrived at nearly the same time and were seated immediately. They were all enjoying the Broccoli-Cheese soup with or without the sandwich when Wheeler leaned in a bit and said quietly “It's happening now or it's already happened, I can't tell.”
Bob and Alice nodded slowly, not showing surprise. It was Alice that asked “Is there something we should be doing?”
“I don't think so. None of it is headed our way. I feels like a storm on the horizon, definitely close but over there, so all we can really do is stay alert. Alice, could you join us at the shop after lunch? It' not a big deal but you probably shouldn't be alone.”
“I figured there was something up when you called me for lunch. I was afraid you wanted the truck and am not real keen on driving your rattletrap VW back to the house.”
“Hey” Wheeler interrupted her, “that's my favorite VW.”
“Yeah right. It was getting lonely at the house anyway so I brought my laptop and folders.”