Karen stalked back inside, her face flushed as she tossed her card onto the table to clear her tab, her attitude as grating as ever. She barely glanced at Stephanie, acting as if paying her bill was an act of charity rather than common decency.
For a moment, there was a lull, as if things might calm down. But minutes later, the chaos returned. Karen’s kids were tearing around the diner again, screeching as they dashed past tables. Karen, still loudly on the phone, resumed her conversation, her voice filling the room obnoxiously.