A short play

Scene: Half & Half, approx 11:30 am. ROBIN and JEFF are working, recovering from lunch prep and getting ready for an imminent rush. No one else is in the cafe. Jeff looks out the window and sees DENNIS walking up the street.

JEFF: Here he comes!
DENNIS walks in, wearing a short-sleeved button down with a tropical bird pattern. He is clean-shaven and he's had a hair cut. He looks healthy and renewed. ROBIN hasn't seen him since he's returned to Portland from an extended sojurn in Roseburg with his family. She wipes down the work table and turns to meet him at the counter

ROBIN: Dennis, I thought we finally got rid of you.

DENNIS: (laughs) I thought you'd go out of business by now.

R: I told you to call if you're going to be gone for a long time. That's rude.

D: I know, I know. I thought about it, but...

Some people come in and order sandwiches, DENNIS gets his coffee and reads the paper, ROBIN makes sandwiches, JEFF fiddles with espresso machine. When no one's at the counter, DENNIS returns. He looks at JEFF, then back to ROBIN

D: So, I guess he hasn't dumped you yet.

R: Why, Dennis, would you like to cut-in?

D: No! (laughs) Did you lose weight?

R: I don't think so, probably not

D: Yeah, it doesn't look like it.