Sitting in front of Circle Grill Dallas, Texas I-30 at Loop 12 Pegasus overhead 9:10 p.m. They closed at 9 p.m. Sitting in IHOP Mesquite, Texas 635 at Military Parkway Open 24/7 9:30 p.m. Cows mooing overhead Rodeo all around Lone Ranger in front of me eating Southwestern Chicken Fajita Salad Tonto behind me not speaking to Lone Ranger eating Breakfast Sampler friendly country people all around jowls puffed with good eating kids spreading syrup on seats smoke from smoking section saturating non smoking section clean laughter on the way to the coffin bright waitresses shiny with smiles educated at Eastfield Community College poets in secret romance novelists in secret barely getting by I tip all I have and can't pay my bill waitress gives me back enough to pay and leave her tears fall on the biggest tip she ever almost got I drive home with punctured tires.