Snow thunder, Tom said. Never experienced that, but I’ve heard of it. A guy told me once that he was driving through West Texas, and it was snowing real hard, and you could hear thunder. Strange. He said it scared him. Said he thought the end of the world was happening. That’s what he said.

I’ve never heard of it, Johnny said. But I know things get strange out in West Texas just before you hit New Mexico. All that red clay.  It’s like a painting. Just red clay under a blue sky.

Snowing. Gray. Real gray. That’s what he told me, said Tom.

That’s your story. Mine is blue skies. Pretty as it can be, Johnny told him.

He had to use chains on his tires. Tom swallowed more coffee. He looked at the menu. They have biscuits and gravy. Half order or full?

Full. Don’t do anything halfway, Johnny said. Halfway gets you nowhere. That’s why I have a cross hanging on my mirror. You either accept him as your lord and savior, or you don’t.

What the hell has that got to do with anything? Certainly has nothing to do with biscuits and gravy. Some kind of crap you’re telling me.

No. I just have a full-on faith, Johnny proclaimed.

Yeah. You’re full-on, alright. Full-on crazy.

That red clay. God made that. Same as snow thunder. He made that too. Johnny called over the waitress. Told her he would have a half order.

That means just one biscuit, the waitress told him.

I know. Gotta watch it these days. He thumped his fat belly. Yeah, just a half.

You sir, she asked, Tom.

Just coffee. Could I get some more half and half?

Snow thunder? John said.

Yeah. That’s was his story.

Sure.