Her father is ordering eggs and toast as he warns his hands over his coffee cup.

Frances wants only apiece of cherry pie. and hot chocolate.The dinner is steamy with the aroma of fried potatoes and hamburgers grease, and its foggy windows hide the snow outside.

It is,for Frances, like a long, skinny, smelly cocoon this Christmas eve.She is wrapped with her father into this safe place.

Daddy, look. A cat!"

Frances father and the waitress and the big man and the young man all turn to the window where Frances is pointing. The shadow's tail moves back and forth on the foggy glass.

Everyone in the diner looks at everyone else for a moment..

They look back at the window.They look at each other again.Finally the waitress comes from behind the counter and opens the door.