It was a perfect storm
and although I was unaware
as they were being sat
soon enough
we would all
be in agreement
that the number 2
had it out for me.

At 10:00 pm,
2 hours before closing
the 2 people
were sat in my station,
at table 92.

A very friendly table
newly into romance.

She was Irish,
as in lived in Ireland.

He was American,
as in he didn't appreciate
how good he had it.

They seemed to be burgeoning
towards a monumental love
and it was in the air
as they asked me about my life
and what I do outside of
waiting tables
because, as we all know,
that can't be the only thing
I'm doing with my life.

So, as they appeared to be
not the usual suit and tie
steak steak steak dinner
I freely supplied information
because tables like these
are a nice change.

I even delved into
my situation
my poetry
my hopes.

Everything seemed to be going fine
until it neared closing.

He went to the bathroom
and she anxiously waved me over
requesting I quickly bring
2 new glasses of wine
preferably strong
and somewhat exotic
to pep up the conversation
since it was falling flat.

I could sense her urgency
that the whirlwind whatever
they were having
was fading like a tornado
on a calm day.

Perhaps the interesting wine
sparked some intrigue
into their conversation
as their stay began to wear on me.

The restaurant was far past closed
and every last person
who was not employed
at this establishment had left.

Finally, this table for 2
decided to pay.

His card only swiped for $40,
2 hundred plus short.

I told him that there was a charge
though it was only $40
and that the system
wasn't allowing more
to be charged
so we would void it
but we still needed payment.

He looked up his bank account
to find 2 $40 charges on his account
by which I could not understand
nor fake my way through
since I only swiped it once, not twice.

She tried to insist on paying
and this relationship still being new
he had to maintain his control
of the situation
although no explanation was available.

He crawled through his wallet
and carefully added money
to cover the bill.

I thanked them
and went to the back
to finally be able to close
my personal stuff for the night.

The bill was $248.
He gave me
2 hundred fifty.

So the table I so invested in
my time, effort, and a small part of me
decided to leave.

Table 92
table for 2
2 hours before closing
2 am
2 hours after closing
$2 tip
2 cheap people in love

2 steps closer
to my insanity.

04/19/2011

Posted on 04/19/2011
Copyright © 2024 Jeffrey Parren