version. So I’m going to review what we practiced for the last few weeks with the help of several
friends- no no no I’m not going to read your names here. (We are running out of time.) Fine. So here
it goes. There’s a small bell at the top of the door. (Bells. There are several.) You heard that. Bells.
And there aren’t going to be any customers that day. So when the bells ring it’s definitely going to be
her. But pretend you didn’t hear the bells. We are going to avoid eye contacts as much as possible.
Just face the menu and try to look as if you are reading it. (Like we did in the practice. It seemed nice
enough.) Yeah. Then I’m going to be an annoying waiter and offer her some samples. (Don’t worry.
He’s good at this. He always does that. That’s his job.) When I say the magic word ‘pumpkin latte’
(Pumpkin latte? Gross.) that’s when you look up. She and I will be standing at the eastward direction,
you remember right? And call out her name- (Wave. Just wave.) Yeah- like we did-“
The voices fade away as Al’s fingers pull the earphone away from my ears. “It’s almost 4
o’clock. I’ve let all the customers out.”
July 23rd 4:03 PM
The soft tinkering sound lands on the air yet it fails to bring anyone’s attention. A woman
clutches the door, panting and sweating as if she’s been running the whole way never stopping for a
second. Yet no one in the café seems to notice her; not one. Three waiters stand by the counter and
they are all absorbed in the conversation that’s going on between another waiter and another woman.
Their faces are sincere and earnest as if the most intense and interesting conversation is going on.
The woman by the doorway grins at the sight, letti