Poking Through the Ruins #7 ‘ETHELS’ CAFE’ in CISCO, UTAH’

In the mid-70s, Cisco, Utah was already being called a ghost town. It had boomed briefly during the Uranium Craze, but the town looked deserted by the early 70s.

One marginal exception was Ethel’s Cafe. Its owner was known for her cranky disposition and I was told once that if I ever felt as if I needed more abuse than what was being served to me, I should pay Ethel a visit.

Being the masochist that I am, I immediately headed north, up the river road to see Ethel. It was early spring and still blustery and cold. I found Ethel behind the counter, a cigarette dangling from the edge of her mouth. She had one customer, who seemed to have permission to be there, but they both cast a scornful eye at me when I asked if I could get a Coca-Cola.

“They’re in the freezer case,” she snarled. “Get it yourself.”

I pulled a bottle from the fridge but it didn’t feel very cold. Because I have had a death wish for decades, I asked, “Do you think I could have a glass with some ice?”

“What the hell for? You just took it out of the FREEZER!”

I paid for my Coke and left. Feeling supremely abused, I sa­vored my luke warm soft drink, all the way back to Moab.

~JS