Overheard at Chipperfield's ... part XIII ...

There's something strangely appropriate that the Thirteenth entry of "Overheard ..." would be announcing the return of the proverbial prodigal son ...

Kriss was busy getting a large order of coffees and carrot cakes ready for the various customers who had strolled in the door a moment early. They had all arrived on bikes that were now stacked five deep in front of the window. She looked out the window and turned to Anna who was working with her; "Think they don't trust people around here?" she asked motioning to the bikes out front.

"Likely not from a small town," observed Anna, "I heard they are part of a cycling group that are pedaling from Vancouver to Newfoundland."

"Where did you hear that?" asked Kriss.

"J-- told me," answered Anna, "When he was in earlier."

"Oh," replied Kriss, finishing up the order and getting ready to take it out to the tables.

"Think J-- will be in tonight?" asked Kriss as she came back behind the counter.

"Think the sun will rise tomorrow?" replied Anna in a dry tone.

"You don't have to be sarcastic," retorted Kriss, feigning profound hurt.

"Sarcasm?" answered Anna wryly, "I'll show you sarcasm ..."

"No thank you," snapped Kriss with a smile, cutting Anna off, "I'll pass."

The conversation was truncated by the arrival of the infamous J--, who strolled through the front door, cap on his head and a warm smile on his face. "Evening everybody," he called cheerfully.

"Norm," called out three of regulars perched around one of the tables not occupied by the cyclists.

"Evening Mr. Peterson," replied one of the regulars, causing the cyclists to look up from the various tasks they were busy with.

"Evening Woody," answered J-- with a laugh, "a pint of your finest beverage my dear," he asked Kriss and Anna behind the counter.

"Certainly," replied Kriss with a smile.

Anna fought hard to restrain a smile as she answered: "We don't serve your kind here ... I think we'll have to ask you to leave ..."

"Sure thing," laughed J-- as he picked up his coffee and joined the regulars at the table, greeting each one as he sat down, "It's good to be back," Jim concluded as he picked up his coffee and took a sip.

"It's good to have you back," answered one of the regulars, "How was your trip?"

J--, began to regale the assembled group much as a King would regale his court with stories of his valour and adventures. J-- had come home after a long absence ...

It's funny how every good establishment seems to have amongst its regular clientelle one or two characters who are truly favoured by the staff and customer's alike ... Like the mythical bar called Cheers, these figures who are very much like TV's Norm and Cliff, loom large on the horizon, and when they head off on a holiday or miss a day or two, we all miss their presence ... Chipperfield's is no exception ...

Our prodigal had returned ... J-- had been off on a Harley trip visiting family, and just getting away for awhile. Aside from emails and periodic phone calls, the place just seemed to be lacking something by J--'s absence ...

As J--, resumed his daily schedule of holding court and regaling the regulars and others who happen to stop by at Chipperfield's, it was observed that he had missed Chipperfield's as much as Chipperfield's had missed him.

He noted when Anna came by the table that his daughter in law had observed that he wasn't interested in getting home to Minnedosa, he was interested in getting home to Chipperfield's ... "Is there anything wrong with that?" he asked as the table erupted with laughter ...

Across the room the 18 cyclists who were making a sojourn stop on their cross country bike ride looked up puzzled ... perhaps small town Manitoba was an alien experience for them ...

Tonight as the sun set in Minnedosa order was once again restored to our little corner of the Force ... J-- has come home and is again regaling us with his stories and jokes and warming the place with his smile ...

There's a new energy around Chipperfield's ... J-- is home, and all is well with the cosmos ... like Anna observed, the sun WILL rise tomorrow ... so, now if you just throw in a large coffee and a slice of the Chipperfield Apple Cheesecake, things would be just wonderful ...

When you're in ask any of the staff for a coffee and a slice of cheese cake ... you won't be disappointed ...