I was working a dayshift in April of 1971 and had a fairly busy morning that included a serious motor vehicle pileup on the highway and a shoplifting arrest at Sears. It was nearly noon when I experienced my first hunger pang, which coincided nicely with the break in the action. It was one of those days in New Jersey when you were convinced winter was finally over; crocuses in bloom, full sunshine and temperatures nearing sixty five degrees. After an especially brutal winter, it was glorious once again; or as glorious as New Jersey ever gets. I didn’t know it at the moment I began the drive to the diner, but my day would be taking a turn for the better in just a few minutes.
I was driving a marked police cruiser with a roof rack and siren. I was 25 and at the top of my game as a uniformed cop. I loved the job, even though it didn’t pay very well and I had to work rotating shifts, including weekends. The work was always varied and interesting. I was raised as a child of suburbia and needed a taste of the real world, so I went into law enforcement, which I viewed as an avenue to personal growth. The job was a medium-sized department in central Jersey. We had 20 guys on the staff and I was among the junior members. But, I was full of ambition and hoped to be considered for the next vacancy in the detective bureau.
The Silver Star Diner was actually in a neighboring town, though it was easily accessed on local roads. It was a very popular lunch spot for the cops, truck drivers and workers in nearby businesses, for whom it was an easy walk away. I only got a thirty minute lunch break, so I usually stopped in and asked the owner, Freddy, to save me a two-person booth and to order my lunch for a pre-determined time. Then, even if the diner was busy, I wouldn’t go over my allotted break time. On this day, I stopped in for morning coffee around eight thirty and reserved my table and ordered my lunch for four hours later. I pulled in precisely at the appointed hour and found my table waiting for me and my lunch being served. For once, everything was working according to plan.
The diner was packed that afternoon; not an empty seat to be had. I was glad I made a reservation. I took the first bite of my Greek salad when I looked up and saw her. She was a vision; tall, model thin with long curly dark hair, blue eyes and the face of an angel-with freckles. She was looking a little stressed as Freddy told her there would be about a fifteen minute wait to be seated.
“But, I only have a half hour lunch,” she said with considerable desperation in her voice. “And, I’m starving.” Freddy shrugged hopelessly.
I saw an opportunity, so I spoke to her when she looked my way. “I’d be glad to share my table with you, miss.”
Her face lit up and she walked my way, taking the seat opposite mine in the booth.
“You are a lifesaver. I was beginning to think, I would have to go hungry today. This place is mobbed. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it, being seen with somebody like you will certainly improve my reputation. My name is Curt, what’s yours?”
“Nice to meet you, Curt, though I always hate to answer that question.”
“Why would that be?, I inquired.”
“Believe it or not, my given name is Walter. My parents were so sure they were having a boy that they just named me as though I was one. I’ve been living it down all my twenty three years.”
“Well, you don’t look anything like a boy to me. What do people call you?” She blushed.
“Around the house, my family calls me Wally. But, I shortened that to Ally when I was about six. Since then all my friends, teachers and colleagues call me Ally and I would appreciate it if you would, too.”
“Okay, Ally, let’s see if we can get you some service,” I said as I looked around the room for my waitress, Ginny.
I corralled Ginny after a minute or so and Ally gave her a lunch order for a burger and an iced tea. I munched away on my salad as Ally told me all about herself. Her lunch arrived and, as she ate, I told her about myself. We hit it off great. Ally was friendly, bright and beautiful; a tough combination to beat. I asked for her phone number and she tore off a piece of her napkin and wrote it down for me. She handed it to me with a big smile displaying her perfect teeth.
“Don’t wait too long to call.”
“I won’t. Would tonight be too soon?”
“Not at all, I’ll look forward to it.”
When we were both finished with our lunch, we headed back to work. Ally returned to the huge fabric store next to the diner and I returned to my police cruiser to return to my district. We waved good bye and went our separate ways. I was looking forward to talking to her again that night.
Unfortunately, just a few minutes before shift change I was sent to another serious motor vehicle accident which occurred on a winding, mountainous roadway in the east end of town. An oil tanker driver had lost control of his vehicle and it wound up on its side, spewing oil all over the roadway. The road was a busy one and heavily traveled, especially during rush hour, as it led to the interstate used by thousand to return home after work. They would need to find an alternate route on this day as we wound up closing the road in order to clean up the oil spill. It would be hours before I would be able to get home and call Ally. The fire department brought me some barricades which, along with my vehicle, were used to close down the road.
When it got to be nearly seven, I was hungry again and the man who owned the house on the corner was kind enough to send out his daughter with some dinner for me. He also volunteered to direct traffic while I used his bathroom. The cleanup continued up the hill from my position and I had no choice but to wait it out. Cell phones had not been invented so I had no way to contact Ally to let her know I had been detained.
Finally, at nine thirty, I was relieved and headed into headquarters. I immediately called Ally from there and told her of my dilemma. She lived with her parents who went to bed early so I gave her my number and asked her to call me in about an hour. When I got home, I stripped down to my boxers and awaited her call, which came exactly at the suggested time. It was good to finally be home, talking to Ally from the comfort of my bed.
Ally confessed that she had begun to lose hope that I would call her but she was quite understanding of the circumstances. She, too, got ready for bed and was reading when I was finally able to call her.
“So, now that we are both comfortable, what would you like to talk about?,” I asked.
“How about our good fortune meeting each other in the diner today? You really saved me as any good officer would be expected to do,” she replied with a charming giggle.
