Giano's

Dark clouds had built up above her head. A thunderclap sent a shiver up her spine as she cowered. She looked towards the dimly lit building and raced ahead. The air stirred with electricity, waiting to be washed away in the oncoming torrents of rain. A drop hit her arm, she ran faster. The rain began. Drenched, she reached the final leg of the journey. Her hand grasped the cold metal handle as she pulled with frenzied ferocity. It remained shut. Her arms came above her head as she pummeled the unweilding door. She heard heavy footsteps and the frosted glass door flew forward. She rushed in, finally free of the downpour.  She gasped and panted as she listened to the steady drip of her drenched clothing. A click came from behind her as her rescuer re-locked the door. She turned.
"Thank you. It's really wet out there." She held out her hand.  He glanced at it and then shook it, quickly slipping his hand in and out of her soggy grasp. "I'm Monica."
"Elijah." He replied, giving her a half smile. "Make yourself at home." He gestured towards a row of waxed wood tables.
"What is this place?" Monica asked as she slid into a chair near Elijah.
"Didn't you read the sign?" asked Elijah.
"It was too dark," Monica replied. "Is it a restaurant or something?"
"Giano's. Only the finest cuisine," he handed her a stack of dishtowels. "Do you mind? You're dripping." She nodded and began wiping herself off and the puddles on the floor.
"A restaurant in the middle of nowhere?" She asked as she scrubbed a towel through her rust colored hair.
"Business may be a little slow out here, but that's okay. We're a small restaurant and the Owner doesn't need the money."
"Then why have a restaurant?"
"The food is good. Would you like some?" he handed her a fancy menu, a golden tassel hung from the middle and the black leather cover read, Giano's, Fine Cuisine. She flipped the cover back and read, Bread of Life. Under it, in big bold letters it read free.
"It's the best thing we've got. Can't beat the taste." Elijah said, pointing to the words, Bread of Life.
"It's the only thing you've got," Monica said, glancing at Elijah and then back at the otherwise empty menu. "And what's with the price? Free? Who gives food away?"
"The Owner of Giano's," Elijah said, taking the menu back from Monica's hesitant hands. "I told you, he doesn't need the money. He gives away the best food on earth for free."
"Nice guy." Monica said, "Okay, I'll have one order of Bread of Life, please."
"Wait." Elijah pulled out a chair and sat down next to her. "Before you order, you have to understand."
"Understand what?"
"Bread of Life is so good that you'll never be hungry again."
"What?"
"Once you eat the Bread of Life, you'll never be hungry again."
"I heard you. I just, wait-how is that possible?"
"It's not." Said Elijah, leaning close to Monica. "But hey, you don't have anything to lose do you? You're out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing to eat. If you have the Bread of Life, then you won't starve out here in the wilderness. You'll be able to make it back home."
"But, once I make it back home, then it will wear off?"
"Sure, if you taste other things."
"So, say if I made it home and wanted some chocolate or something, and ate it, then it'd wear off?"
"Gradually, but yes. Does it really matter? You shouldn't eat the chocolate anyway, you won't need it. You'll have the Bread of Life."
"Alright, but it's chocolate! Are you saying I won't eat chocolate anymore? I don't think I can do that."
"Then never taste the Bread of Life. Once you've had the Bread, then eaten something else, after that, you can never be satisfied. Not unless you eat the Bread of Life again."
"This is creepy. There is nothing on the earth that can make you never hungry or always hungry. It's impossible."
"I thought we already went over that," Elijah, said, sighing, "Yes, it is impossible, and yes, there is nothing on the earth that can fill you completely. That is why the Bread of Life is so good. There is nothing else that can satisfy you."
"Are you saying this stuff is from outer space?"
"Sure, if that's the explanation that makes you happy."
"You expect me to eat some alien food?'
"Look, do you want it or not? If you don't then forget it. Lots of the people who wander in here never taste the Bread of Life. Apparently, the stakes are too high."
"I'm so hungry though. Don't you have anything else?"
Elijah shook his head and dark ringlets swished back and forth across his forehead.
"We don't serve anything second-best." He stood up and scooted the chair back in towards the table.  "I know it's hard for you. You're an addict aren't you? Coffee, isn't it?" Monica's jaw dropped. How did he know?
"Okay, yes. I confess. I like it. It gives me a buzz. Some people would say I'm addicted, I guess."
"Once you eat the Bread of Life, you won't have a need for coffee anymore."
"The Bread of Life will give me a buzz?"
"In a way. When you need the energy to get through the day, it will be there. It's not a buzz, per say, but a boost."
"I don't think I want it. No coffee? I can't. I just can't."
"Just try it, Monica. You'll see. It will give you everything you need. You'll never be hungry again! Why don't you believe me?"
"It's too odd. Too... good to be true, I guess. Besides, it can't be real if it's free."
"Is it so hard to believe that the Bread of Life is so good that the owner cannot bear to see anyone go without it?"
"Yes. No one is that nice. Everyone wants something out of everything."
"Not the Owner. He's perfect."
"Impossible." Monica said and then glanced at Elijah's face. It all seemed impossible, but Elijah seemed so sincere. Still, so did the teenager behind the counter at Starbuck's. Each thought their product was the best. Which was right?
"How do I know that the Bread of Life is the best thing out there?"
"I'm telling you. I've tried chocolate, donuts, hamburgers, even sipped a coffee once. That stuff was good, real good. Top of the line. Then, I ended up out here. Everybody does, the wilderness is like a whirlpool. It sucks you in. I ended up at Giano's and met the Owner. He offered me the bread of life. We had a conversation much like the one we're having now and then, I ate it. I'll never be the same. Monica, it exceeded my expectations. Hamburgers, donuts, even coffee, were no longer appealing to me. All I wanted was to hang out with the Owner and tell others about the Bread of Life."
"So the Owner is a friend of yours?"
"Yes."
"Can I meet him?"
"You may never see Him, select few of us actually got to. He built this Giano's and then, once He had staff, He left. He keeps saying He'll come back but He won't give us an exact date. But, you can talk to Him anytime. I'll give you His e-mail. He has a website too. It's full of information on what to do now that you've eaten the Bread of Life. You'll be different then everyone else and so you'll need all kinds of instruction. Plus, if you have any questions you can e-mail Him. He always answers His e-mail."
"Well, He is perfect, He had better answer His e-mail." Monica said, sarcastic.
"You don't want it, do you?" Elijah asked, crestfallen.
"I didn't say that." Monica replied, "I just want some more time to think about it. Maybe I'll come back."
"Maybe you won't."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll make it home, maybe, or maybe you will never make it home. If you do make it home, you'll have more coffee and decide maybe you don't need the Bread of Life; you can live off coffee and donuts. It will keep you full as long as you keep buying it.  You may never find your way back. Or, maybe you won't make it out of the wilderness. There are those who don't.  Then you'll really never experience the Bread of Life. You'll wander in the desert, parched and dry. Forever." Monica gulped, already desperate for something to fill her.
"Taste it, Monica. Taste and see that it is good." Elijah said.
"Maybe, I will. It sounds so good."
"It will never let you down." Elijah said, beaming. He left her for a moment, and went into the kitchen. He came out presently with a small slice of bread.
"Okay, here it is. Are you really ready for this?"
"Yes, yes, I'm ready." Monica said, drooling as the scent of fresh baked bread reached her nostrils.
"Could I have some butter?" she asked. Elijah's eyes blazed.
"That defeats it. You can't mix the Bread of Life with any other taste." Monica was disappointed. Surely it would taste better if she could put what she wanted on it. She hesitated. Elijah gave her a smile and a nod, urging her to eat. Butter would defeat the purpose of the bread, Elijah said. All right then, here goes.  Monica lifted the slice to her lips and bit it in.  Her mouth was filled with the most delicious flavor she'd ever tasted. It was so good it brought tears to her eyes. It was satisfying.

THE END