“It’s a long ride, it’s fun just watching people.”
– William Clark
Sitting in a popular cafe, waiting for the waitress, my eyes began to wander.
Across from me two young men sit and talk loudly about their morning. They seem a bit excited… a new contract they scored?
The blond guy is leaning back against the red couch, legs stretched out. He looks to be the one that might take a risk; I guess. His hunched shoulders friend has a more subdued manner, but I can hear he is also all worked up by whatever has made their day. It must be good if I look at their grins.
They have gobbled their breakfasts up with a few quick glances towards the television between bites to check the rugby score. The blond guy’s cell rings and after a moment, I heard something like, “Brood – whole wheat? Ok, maak so…”. They grabbed their stuff and left in a hurry. I hope their luck holds or rather their reward. Employment is scarce.
Time for that second cup of coffee.
In the corner at a small table, a friendly young woman is bantering with the waitress who brought her breakfast. The waitress has barely left her table, and she is already taking big bites. Not at all what I would have expected from her, so dainty-like. Her small gold jewelry that goes perfectly with her dress and her dark blonde hair just so. It’s really unexpected. Well, as long as she’s enjoying her eggs.
Now she’s on her cell phone, smiling. Instagram? What social media do young people prefer nowadays? Her fingers are dancing on the cell’s keyboard, I think WhatsApp.
Wish I was that young again. If could, my heavy sexy, blue Alcatel cell phone would have been the talk of the cafe. It was all the rage back then. Haha.
Across from me a couple in their forties is sitting silently, chewing. Their cell phones neatly next to their plates. Now and then the woman gestures with her fork saying something. Her partner just nods, his eyes on the rugby game, chewing. I wonder if he is always just nodding, scarcely listening. Just nodding to keep his wife (I think) satisfied.
I’ve learned that at a certain time in a relationship that many couples prefer a specific communication method. I wonder if they can taste their food or if it is just an automatic motion forking their eggs, chew, swallow, next forking. It’s so sad to see them like this, scary to tell the truth. Is it mandatory this stage in a relationship? Can one skip it?
I motioned to my waitress to bring me another cup of jo.
In the corner on the round couch a little one is making a ruckus. A cute baby girl with soft black ringlets in a white frilly dress. The small pink elastic bow almost out of her hair. I can only see her mother’s hands as she’s trying to will her baby to stop screaming. Everyone in the cafe is now looking in their direction. I can almost feel her embarrassment, face pink. There’s frowning but here and there a few smiles. Grandmothers I think. I’m also one with a slight frown. Beautiful quiet babies are lovely. My son was a quiet baby and lovely. Haha. I wonder what he would say to his mom…
I take a sip from my cold coffee while scribbling in my too small notebook. The pages are full of arrows and scratched out sentences. The paragraphs are flowing into each other. My pen made a mess. I see an abstract painting in the smear. Wish I have my laptop with me. I got used to working in the cafe. It’s as if I can concentrate better with the surrounding murmur. That is unless there’s a “lovely baby” crying. O yes, and the smell of good coffee is a bonus.
I wonder why that guy is wearing his sunglasses in the restaurant? Hope he doesn’t eat his eggs with his sunglasses on!. Hope it’s for medical reasons. Hell, I don’t mean it like that; just that it’s so dark inside. I really hope he doesn’t have a medical condition. Shame man. Ahh, can’t help it now, so funny!
Standing at the counter to pay for my three coffees, there’s a loud sound of shattering glass. Yip, the lovely toddler. My stomach is talking. The pancakes with syrup on the cover of the menu are staring at me.
What is your favourite breakfast?
Odd Colours 