THE PATRON (short story)

It was an overcast, windy winter morning in Yellow River Township Town. As you might guess, it was on the icy banks of the Yellow River. The water was clear enough to see stones at the bottom of the river. A dirt road divided the town in half, with a few shops and restaurants on each side. Only one restaurant was open. The proprietress craned her neck from the restaurant door, scanning up and down the road. She was physically strong, and locals imagined she was also emotionally strong. Some called her "Strong Woman," partly because her tall stature, broad shoulders, long face, big eyes, and prominent straight nose made her look like a man when they saw her from a distance. The street was empty of people and cars. Only a few dogs wandered around. A large, black dog padded to a garbage bin. A red mother dog that limped, not using her right hind leg, led two puppies. They sniffed a bone near the restaurant before lying in a circle around the bone. One puppy gnawed on the bone while the other two dogs seemed to doze. …