The Man at Table Four
beginnerrelationships142 words
Every day at one o'clock, an old man orders two coffees and drinks only one. The new waitress wants to know who the second cup is for.
Every day at one o'clock, an old man comes into Rosa's cafe. He sits at table four, by the window. He orders two coffees. One is for him, and one is for the empty chair.
He drinks his coffee slowly. He doesn't touch the second cup. At two o'clock, he pays for both and leaves.
Rosa is new here. She doesn't understand. 'Does he wait for someone?' she asks the cook.
'Every day,' says the cook. 'For ten years.'
One rainy Tuesday, the man doesn't come. Rosa feels strange. At one o'clock, she makes two coffees. She sits at table four and watches the door.
At five past one, the door opens. An old woman comes in, wet from the rain. She looks around the cafe. Then she sees the two cups.
'He always says I'm late,' she says, and sits down.