The Cal Neva

            The next place I visited from Northline was the Cal Neva Casino where Allison spent a ton of time working at the Top Deck diner. I actually went here right after I ate at the Nugget so I didn't get to eat there. Getting up to the restaurant from the ground floor was fun. The elevator was the sketchiest elevator I have ever ridden in. Honestly it looked like a standard diner nothing special. To Allison it was nothing special either she worked there just to occupy her time. It was something that allowed her to get by without going insane. The most important part about the Cal Neva in the book is the fact that she meets Dan there. At first Dan seems like nothing special just like the restaurant.

            When Allison first arrives in Reno she is a wreck and by the end of the book she has some direction in life. The misdirection is obvious at first because she gets super drunk and depressed and misses work at the Cal Neva. When she gets re hired it is like life is giving her a second chance in life. It is very clear that she is hesitant in making any commitments to guys after her completely unhealthy relationship with Jimmie. Jimmie is a complete loser and probably the opposite of Dan. When Dan first makes a move on Allison he does it with a snowglobe in the Top Deck. Allison is very skeptical and has a hard time accepting the gift. Clearly, Allison is very timid about anything she does after leaving Reno especially when it comes to guys. As we see Allison's personality progress she begins to accept Dan into her life. This is a huge leap for her character because she is making changes and learning to trust people.

            All in all, the restaurant represents Allison getting back on track in life.  To me it was just a bland old place with nothing special, but sometimes something bland can turn into something really important for some people. It's all about who we meet and where we meet them. Dan just happened to go to that diner and not some other one. That is all it took.