Reflections

Table for Two

By on • ( 52 Comments )

Henry was somewhat regretting his decision.

After all, he hadn’t been here for years. Decades, possibly. Time skitters once you reach a certain age, with current happenings briefly shimmering in the neck of the wine bottle, but once you uncork, the vessel of memory expands and long ago competes with last month. This is the vintage of the years that flew.

He usually drove past the roadside diner, the charming dilapidation of the rustic structure barely registering, white noise avoided. He drove this route nearly every day, because life required he do so, but he rarely took in the places that had been taken from him that day when it all went so wrong, so quickly. This time, though, without even realizing until the deed was done, he pulled into the parking lot and eased his tired truck into the same slot that it had slotted so many times before. This gave him courage, in an undefined way, the way that most of us grab onto nothing and make it something, because we must.

Henry’s resolve faded slightly in the foyer of the diner, a mild panic of trepidation. Nothing looked the same. But how could it? Years, maybe decades. His own life hadn’t been familiar for longer than the wine bottle remembered, rippling variations of once but not now. Then he spotted that wretched painting of dancing woodchucks, dustily still surviving behind the cash register, an image his wife had hated relentlessly, often vowing to rip said image off the wall and hurl it into the river that ran alongside the diner, a resultant fervency inspired by perhaps one too many glasses of wine. Good times, then.

“How many in your party, sir?”

Henry shifted his focus to the young lady standing at the worn but strong hostess station. Chipper she was, shiny, because life was still new and people hadn’t yet left. “It’s just me.”

“And would you prefer the main dining room or a table on the river?”

Ah, the river that the woodchucks narrowly escaped. “The river, actually. Would it be possible to have the table near the tree?”

Chipper looked down at something, perusing, then her eyes bounced back. “I think we can make that happen. Follow me, please.”

Henry followed, and he was soon ensconced at the very table that meant more now than it had then, if only he had known. But we never know until it’s too late. The waves crash, and the ocean knows no pity, only repetition.

Chipper placed a menu on the wooden table by the tree, another repetition, fleeting and always. “Could I get you something from the bar? Perhaps some wine?”

Henry thought that was a splendid idea, as the cork had already been plucked and so many things were flowing right now. “Something red. Surprise me.”

Chipper nodded. “Of course. Your server will be with your shortly.” Then she was gone, a faint refrain that echoed. Woodchucks and suddenly rooms were empty.

Henry studied the river. It took no notice of his scrutiny, because the water must go where the water must.

“Well, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”

Henry’s gaze shifted from the river to the woman now beside his table, deftly placing a rose-tinted glass next to the menu he had not yet perused. Echoes bubbled in the vino again. He knew this woman, knew her well, from the fading moments when his wife didn’t care for stupid paintings. Gladys, was it? Yes, Gladys. “How ya doin’, darlin’?”

Gladys shrugged. “Can’t complain. Win some, lose some, you still have to pay the rent. More important, how have you been?”

Henry’s eyes suddenly welled, brimming, flashbacks, water going where it must. “I just… I get by. One day, another day. Then next thing you know the days are years.”

Gladys nodded. “Honey, I get ya. The road is rough and we don’t always have the right tires. I’m just glad you finally came back to see us.”

Henry turned back toward the incessant river. “I don’t even know why I’m here.”

Gladys nodded, again. “That’s okay. We don’t always understand why we do the things we do. Things happen and we shift and shimmy until we get it right. Now, what would you like to eat on this fine Sunday afternoon?”

Henry stared at the menu, unseeing. “I have no idea what to order.”

Gladys gently took the menu and held it behind her back, because kind people who think of others often know the very thing to do. “No worries. I’ll just bring out what you and the missus used to order.”

Henry’s throat tightened, because things were still so sharp after all these years. “But there’s just me. You know that.”

“Of course I do. But wouldn’t it be mighty fine to dine in the way that you used to do? I’ll be right here to help you through it. And Claire is here as well. I think you know that.”

Henry sighed. “Yes, I think I do. She’s the one who made me turn into the parking lot. I don’t know why, but she did.”

Gladys reached down and patted his hand, and Henry marveled at the human touch that had been absent for so long, however abstract it might be. “You just sit right here and finish your wine. I’ll be back out in no time and we’ll do this right proper.”

Gladys went back into the diner.

Henry’s eyes went back to the river.

And the water flowed.

 

The image for this post was graciously provided by Lynette. She knew I would go somewhere with it, but I doubt she expected this. I hope she approves, nonetheless. And in case you missed it, scroll back and peruse said image. Can you see the reflection of the woman in the wine glass? I certainly did, and the words trickled out from there…

 

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52 replies »

  1. This is some absolutely gorgeous writing!

    “Time skitters once you reach a certain age, with current happenings briefly shimmering in the neck of the wine bottle, but once you uncork, the vessel of memory expands and long ago competes with last month. This is the vintage of the years that flew.”

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Thank you, Ilene. And I would be happy to work with any image you might share. (I haven’t checked the Bonnywood email account in a bit, so my apologies if you’ve sent something and I haven’t acknowledged such…)

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  8. This was quite a change of pace, and a beautiful one. So evocative, and such wonderful phrasing (“…once you uncork, the vessel of memory expands and long ago competes with last month. This is the vintage of the years that flew.”). I wanted to stay with Henry through dinner and then accompany him back to his lonely home. I want to see what comes next. And I also want a Kleenex….

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    Reply

    • Thanks, Angie. I fully welcome your permission, gladly. I’ve been tinkering with a few tales based on some of your pics (hopefully I have mentioned this, mea culpa if I haven’t) and I will now run with wind. Unless something distracts me, which is highly possible… 😉

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  11. Excellent Brian. I read it twice, and it was even better the second read. Wonderful imagery and word choices. I especially liked” rough road and don’t have right tires”. We have winter up here and that makes a immense sense. A sensitive post. -David

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • You could still run with it, despite the gender issue. And I know that you would do it quite well, but I won’t push it any further than that because I’m sure you’re a bit annoyed with me pushing you to write more. As for finishing this story, Lynette just posted another photo that I might be able to use as a launching pad for more of the story. We’ll see…

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  17. How lovely. You make me want to envelop Henry in a warm comforting hug.
    That being said, how can a dusty painting of dancing woodchucks be anything but perfectly delightful. If the diner decides to sell it, please let me know.

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    • I’ve spoken with the manager of the diner, and it pains me to inform you that she is well aware of how much detritus you already have residing in Big Barn and Little Barn, and she is not interested in sending the woodchuck diorama your way. I tried explaining that it’s not YOUR fault concerning the detritus, but she firmly believes in adequate curatorship of woodchuck art and it wouldn’t be right to transfer ownership of the woodchucks, especially with those annoying red squirrels running around everywhere… 😉

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Whilst I’m not a fan of crying, in general, sometimes we have to go there. And this story was purposefully penned for folks like you who know exactly what I’m penning about, Dear Sister…

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    • I’m SO glad you liked it, as I was a bit worried when I tagged you and the others on the Facebook post. There’s definitely an air of melancholy and loss with this one, but I also like the undercurrents of eventual acceptance and new hope. And the friend who randomly pops in at just the right time to say the right things, as we’ve done (or at least I hope we have) for each other over the years…

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