More: Room For One

Elias looked at his small diner. It was full. But then he saw a pair of headlights flicker in the parking lot—a delivery truck driver looking for a safe place to pull off the road.

Ten minutes later, the bell rang again. This time, it was an elderly man whose car had slid into a ditch. Then, a family of four whose hotel reservation had been canceled due to a power outage. By midnight, the six booths were full. Room for One More

"That’s it," the father of the family sighed, looking at the door. "We’re packed. No more room." Elias looked at his small diner