photo #8991578

There was a time when lunch didn’t need a reservation.You walked in.You slid onto a stool.You waited your turn.The counter was cold.The seat squeaked.And somehow, everything tasted better there.A grilled cheese.Golden.Crispy.Cheese stretching just enough to make you smile.A milkshake in a tall glass.Too thick for the straw at first.So you waited.And talked.Or watched people come and go.Pocket change felt like plenty back then.And it really was.Nobody rushed you out.Nobody stared at a phone.People talked to the person next to them.Even strangers.Those lunch counters weren’t just places to eat.They were places to belong.And once in a while…If you close your eyes…You can almost taste it again.