Slow Tuesday at the diner. The tip jar had three nickels and a button.
A woman came in, flustered, said she was subbing biology at the high school. Ordered black coffee and the lemon pie.
When she left, she put a ten on the counter and said keep the change. Then she tapped a sticky note to the tip jar.
It said: 'You have a kind face. Don't forget it.' I almost laughed, but my throat tightened.
I reached into my apron pocket and felt the spelling-bee ribbon my twin won in sixth grade. She moved to Denver last year.
That note was the first time anyone had said something like that since she left.
The sub waved on her way out. I waved back with the sticky note still stuck to my palm.
I taped it inside my locker that night. It's still there.