Heartville's Diner

Synopsis

Café, Eatery or Bistro... On the whole their brightly-lit and colourfully flashing welcome signs serve as modern reminders of sometimes age-old delectable processes kept secret, to keep hungry choosy patrons returning for more - and as often as possible. No two are alike in character and each one boasts the domination of generous portions of their delightful secretly guarded home-made gravies, a choice selection of appetisers, and unforgettable tempting desserts. Whatever it is that magnetises us towards them, they just prepare it better... And of course, then there are the heart-warming hosts... the 'other' ingredient to a mouthwatering experience - that keeps us going back...

Prologue

"Two for the price of one!" - "Saturday Dinner Specials!" and "Upsize Now, And Win!" The blinding yellow-and-red pulsing neon signs poked out from almost everywhere near a multitude of corner stands. For an early evening it had seemed more like a bright sunrise at these popular places where long convoys of ravenous and exited families had encircled the franchised ovens. Fast pulling families off and away from the main road through Heartville with their promises of boxed cuisine and ornate with every cut-out puzzle from six-year-olds down, and crosswords and car games for all else up, vast sums were raked in and the warm treats were camouflaged far away from anything that should have had a lit arrow telling of a cholesterol and diabetes trap. No one was going hungry tonight.

But it would seem that not everyone was as easily impressed. Nearly out of town - at the very border of it - one could say - a stone's throw away from the rusty old sign near the tunnel entrance that reminded motorists that, "You're leaving Heartville, thank you for visiting!" - was the last of the places that had been treasuring a few life-changing secrets on their menu for decades. The family were a close-knit group of people who were born and raised to keep secrets and never boasted blasphemous things like "Cheap franchised food in a box", nor "Get a toy with your burger", and of all things never "Just-fried potato wedges" for their avid supporters. These connoisseurs and their picky patrons seldom bothered even a stare in the direction of the other modern and flashy dinnertime marvels. Actually come to think of it, it was normally rather like tonight...