14th
A short story about a Valentine.
I decided to try the new fancy restaurant that all the couples were trying to get into that Valentine’s Day. I walked right up to the hostess.
“Tables for two are a two hour wait.” She said.
“That’s ok, I’m here alone, I’ll sit at the bar.” I said.
The hostess pointed me in the direction of the bar, all the seats were empty except for one. A woman was occupying that seat.
I walked past all the tables which all had couples sitting at them. Each couple had their own Violinist playing just for them.
I sat down next to the woman at the bar. “I hope this is ok with you.” I said.
“It’s fine.” She said. “I’m just eating dinner.” She said. “Me too.” I said.
We each ordered our meals and sat quietly.
When the food came, she turned to look at me for the first time since I sat down.
“Would you mind eating with me?” She asked. “I know we are sitting alone at the bar separately, but it is Valentine’s Day. It would be nice to eat dinner with another person.” She said.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” I said to her. She smiled. I smiled.
The air was filled with a hundred songs from a hundred violinists playing for a hundred couples at a hundred tables while we ate our meals quietly as two people at one bar.
I went home when I was done. I’m not sure what the woman did.
Read all of my short stories at thecaseydonahue.com/shortstories.
