The ladle was more of a security blanket for the woman. They all needed something to keep them calm - for Sam it was the buttons on his shirt sleeve, for people like Bob it was the memories they carried, and for some like Ruth it was the bottom of a bottle. When Jeff had come into view most in the diner hurried to the doors. 

Sam was in disbelief that the kid had gotten the gun when it clattered to the ground. He was one of the many who were congratulating the teen. His eyes flickered from the scene before him to his sister. She was standing with her back to them, hands clutched around the handle of the ladle until her knuckles were white. "He's fine. He made it back." Sam understood her fears. He knew all too well that in a small town like this, where most of the people knew each other, it was hard to detach yourself from certain situations. He was a teacher for crying out loud, he knew that he had been worried about the kid. It was in his nature for fuss over kids, that's part of the reason why he became a teacher. 

"Here you go, kid." Barb, a waitress for another small diner across the street, handed Jeff a cup of water to help calm him down. He took it from her with shaky hands and took a drink. He clutched his brother tightly with one arm and he handed the cup back to Barb before wrapping Avery into a tighter hug.

"Well what happened?" Bob, who had nearly broken his back when Jeff came, tumbling into the diner, asked. He was glad that the boy had made it back in one piece but he was now nursing a hurting back. 

Sam and Rowena wanted to know as well. Jeff had been so confident before stepping out of the diner doors, what had happened to the boy to make him whimper like a scared child.