Charlie5thumbs
02-16-2010, 09:33 AM
I sat alone, like most nights in the crowded restaurant. It was raining outside, and it felt good to be inside surrounded by others, even though I didn’t know anyone. Well, I did know the waitress, but on this night she was fully engaged in her work and didn’t have time for any small talk. I ordered my usual; club sandwich with French fries and a cup of coffee. I tried to read, but was too distracted with all the chatter that surrounded me. I became bored, so I just sat and people watched for a little while. I could do this without being caught actually staring, which is sort of a skill I have developed over time. There was one gentleman in particular, who was also alone at a corner booth. I suspected that he might be doing the very same thing.
I ate my sandwich with much enjoyment and lit a cherry cigarillo afterwords. I was about to ask for my bill when this man suddenly got up from his booth and walked straight up to my table. He was an older gentleman with a short nose and a red beard sans the mustache.
“Hello there,” he said with a an almost puckish grin on his face. “Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Roy, and I am your friend from the future.”
I have always had an aversion to strangers who address me as if they’ve known me all their lives, however this man actually had me almost convinced, for the first few moments anyway, that he was telling the truth. In a way, he was right. We’ve met every week for coffee since that night and have discussed everything under the sun. And that was about ten years ago.
I ate my sandwich with much enjoyment and lit a cherry cigarillo afterwords. I was about to ask for my bill when this man suddenly got up from his booth and walked straight up to my table. He was an older gentleman with a short nose and a red beard sans the mustache.
“Hello there,” he said with a an almost puckish grin on his face. “Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Roy, and I am your friend from the future.”
I have always had an aversion to strangers who address me as if they’ve known me all their lives, however this man actually had me almost convinced, for the first few moments anyway, that he was telling the truth. In a way, he was right. We’ve met every week for coffee since that night and have discussed everything under the sun. And that was about ten years ago.