(no subject)
Out of all the years I have been going to Broadway Cafe, my relationship with Tom, the night manager, has been completely consistent. He tells me how much I owe. I tell him to take care, and then he tells me to have a good night. Nothing more. Nothing less. Surely I imagine what it would be like to see Tom outside of Broadway, and my friends and I have a theory that he is actually gay, but these are merely silly fantasies.
However, tonight I decided to take our relationship a step farther.
It began when I ordered french fries, as I frequently do. I ate each greasy potato wedge up except for one small sliver that was burnt beyond consumption. Using the fry as a quill, if you will, I began doodling on my plate with ketchup ink. Then, I asked Jordan what I should draw, and he came up with the brilliant idea of drawing Tom.
I started with his glasses and then moved up to his thick eyebrows and balding head until magically there was a frighteningly close portrayal of Tom sketched in ketchup on my white plate. One of the waitresses went to grab my plate from me and noticed the resemblance without me even saying anything. She brought over all the other waitresses and one even took a picture of the amazing work of art.
Tom was outside smoking, so our waitress set the plate on the counter by the register, and we all giggled while we waited for him to come back inside.
Finally he saw the plate.
"That doesn't look like me," he said. "It's a mirage."
I saw a quick smile break through the Tom grimace before he dumped the plate somewhere back in the kitchen, and when I went to pay he said, "$4.95". I said, "Take care", and Tom said, "Have a good night". Yet I knew that when he handed me that nickel our relationship began its journey towards greater things.
However, tonight I decided to take our relationship a step farther.
It began when I ordered french fries, as I frequently do. I ate each greasy potato wedge up except for one small sliver that was burnt beyond consumption. Using the fry as a quill, if you will, I began doodling on my plate with ketchup ink. Then, I asked Jordan what I should draw, and he came up with the brilliant idea of drawing Tom.
I started with his glasses and then moved up to his thick eyebrows and balding head until magically there was a frighteningly close portrayal of Tom sketched in ketchup on my white plate. One of the waitresses went to grab my plate from me and noticed the resemblance without me even saying anything. She brought over all the other waitresses and one even took a picture of the amazing work of art.
Tom was outside smoking, so our waitress set the plate on the counter by the register, and we all giggled while we waited for him to come back inside.
Finally he saw the plate.
"That doesn't look like me," he said. "It's a mirage."
I saw a quick smile break through the Tom grimace before he dumped the plate somewhere back in the kitchen, and when I went to pay he said, "$4.95". I said, "Take care", and Tom said, "Have a good night". Yet I knew that when he handed me that nickel our relationship began its journey towards greater things.