Strangers

feeling that the darkness outside would spring, pantherlike, into the office.
        "Brought supper," Sandy said, shivering in the gust of cold air that entered with her. She set a small, lidless, cardboard box on the counter. It held a cheeseburger, French fries, a plastic container of cole slaw, and a can of Coors. "Figured you'd need a Coors to sluice all this cholesterol out of your system."
        "Thanks, Sandy."
        Sandy Sarver was not much to look at, plain and washed out, even drab, though she had more potential than she realized. Her legs were too thin but not unattractive. She was underweight, but if she put on fifteen or even twenty pounds, she would have a reasonably good shape. She was flat-chested, though an appealing suppleness compensated for her lack of amplitude, and she had a charming feminine delicateness most apparent in her small bones, slender arms, and swanlike neck. Also, she possessed an infrequently seen but arresting gracefulness that was usually disguised by her habit of shuffling when she walked and slumping round-shouldered when she sat. Her brown hair was lusterless and limp, probably because she washed it with soap instead of shampoo. She never wore makeup, not even lipstick. Her nails were bitten and neglected. However, she was good-hearted, with a generous spirit, which was why Ernie and Faye wished she could look better and get more out of life.
        Sometimes Ernie worried about her, the same way he used to worry about Lucy, his own daughter, before Lucy found and married Frank and became so obviously, perfectly happy. He sensed that something bad had happened to Sandy Sarver a long time ago, that she had taken a very hard blow which had not broken her but had taught her to keep a low profile, to keep her head tucked down, to harbor only meager expectations in order to protect herself from disappointment, pain, and human cruelty.
        Relishing the aroma of the food, popping the tab on the Coors, Ernie said, "Ned makes the best darned cheeseburgers I've ever eaten."
        Sandy smiled shyly. "It's a blessing having a man who cooks." Her voice was soft, meek. "Especially in my case 'cause I'm no good at it." :'Oh, I'll bet you're a fine cook, too," Ernie said.
        'No, no, not me, not even a little bit. Never was, never will be."
        He looked at her bare, goose-pimpled arms, exposed by her short-sleeved uniform. "You shouldn't come out on a night like this without a sweater. You'll catch your death."
        "Not me," she said. "I… I got used to the cold a long time ago."
        That seemed an odd thing to say, and the tone of voice in which she said it was even odder. But before Ernie could think of a way to draw her out and discover her meaning, she headed toward the door.
        "See you later, Ernie."
        "Uh… much business?"
        "Some. And the truckers'll be pulling in for supper soon."
        She paused with the door open. "You sure keep it bright in here."
        A bite of cheeseburger stuck in his throat when she opened the door. She was exposing him to the dangers of the darkness.
        Cold air swept in.
        "You could get a tan in here," she said.
        " I… I like it bright. People come into a motel office that's dimly lit… well, the impression is it's dirty."
        "Oh! I would've never thought of that. Guess that's why you're the boss. I was in charge, I'd never think of little things like that. I'm no good at details. Gotta scoot."
        He held his breath while the door was open, sighed with relief when she pulled it shut behind her. He watched her scurry past the windows and out of sight. He could not remember ever hearing Sandy admit to a virtue. Likewise, she never hesitated to point out her faults and shortcomings, both real and imagined. The kid was sweet, but she was sometimes dreary company. Tonight, of course, even dreary company was welcome. He was sorry to see her go.
        At the counter, eating while standing up, Ernie concentrated intently on his food, not once lifting his eyes from it until he was done, using it to take his mind off the irrational fear that made his scalp prickle and kept the cold sweat trickling down from his armpits.
        By six-fifty, eight of the motel's twenty rooms were occupied. Because it was the second night of a four-day holiday weekend, with more than the usual number of travelers, he would rent out at least another eight units if he stayed open