A Movie Played For Me - Part 1

It plays on my mind like an old dusty Hollywood classic, only better, more poignant, more deeply affecting. A cut reeled just for me.

There was a downpour that night, so sudden. Luck found us a parking slot a few steps away from the place. We didn't have far to walk but struggled through the puddles, both of us huddled under our old yellow umbrella while the feisty onslaught of wind and water pelted both our pants. It was relief to get inside.

The waiter led us to a small wooden table; too small and situated at an angle I found discomforting. No matter the inconvenience of a wait, we truly had to insist being seated somewhere else; after all, dinner is meant to be enjoyed not endured. Thankfully, we didn't have to endure for long.

The table was perfect this time, wide and comfortable and calmly lighted. We had a view of the rains and of briskly walking people ducked under umbrellas, and of the young patrons who sat smoking outside where the overhead shade kept them dry. How these young people can stand the smoke and the cold and the wet altogether appeared hideous to my senses.

Being the pasta lover we are, a hushed serious discussion on what to order persisted for sometime. That agreed, we settled our choices. I declined the wine list. "Are you sure?" he asked feigning mock surprise. "Why yes," I replied though inwardly I was thinking, "perhaps later."

"They serve Danesi here," I continued to rev small talk.

About this time my eyes subtly scanned the other seated guests: two ladies to my right, one of whom was talking not so quietly into her cellphone. Discretion is so passe' for some it seems. A nice Indian family to our left conversing in a mixture of English and our local dialect. Not tourists.

In a nearby table was a Japanese lady oddly speaking in our local dialect as well, her accent sweetly twanged, and her voice audible enough to gather snippets of her life here for the past five years. This she was relating to her Filipina friend.

The other tables were occupied by a motley of couples, each engrossed in their own private conversation.


And then I saw them.....

( to be continued)