“What are you going to do now that you’re here?” the waitress asked him with a smile.
“You know of course that half of the uneducated population is unemployed here in New York”, she added.
“I mean, this is the best job I can find and I hate it. I mean, I’ve been doing this for a long time and I feel trapped. I wish I had had the money to go to college, but I didn’t. And you, you must be fourteen, right?”, she asked not sure of here assessment.
“I am seventeen years old”, he corrected her,
“I turned seventeen on May 12 of this year and I graduated from high school as the best student, best grades. I have time to go to the university, I just have to decide which one and apply”, his tone was defensive but affirmative.
Upon hearing this, the waitress turned and moved to the other side of the counter to pick up an order. She came back and asked, “Do you have the money to pay for this breakfast? I am not going to be surprised if you say no”. She stared at him.
“Yes, yes I do have money” he responded; however he was not ready to pay for he wanted to spend more time there and enjoy the comfort of her voice, besides he was enjoying the conversation with the waitress, she was friendly. He ordered more coffee and while she was serving the coffee, he took time to look around the café and the walls that needed repainting and the tables long ago new and the floor that was not the cleanest.
“Are you from here?” he asked her.
“No, I am from the Bronx, do you know where that is? She asked and before he could answer, she said “its across the east river”.
He knotted his head, but she could tell he probably did not know. She left the subject alone.
“I have no family and don’t know anyone”, he said.
Short Stories
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The essence of the guy’s loneliness is potent in this piece. I think the relationship between the two characters- a young guy who should be reaching the prime of his life and an unnamed waitress- is perfect. Because only people starving for conversation will chat up a waitress who isn’t showing any particular interest in him.