The Cafe

Short Story 1 – The Café

There I was, a stranger in a strange place, no family, no friends, what was I to do. I had to leave my home, it had been destroyed by fire, I had lost everything, so I wandered through the countryside looking, searching, for what I did not know. I had money so that was not the problem, I purchased clothes and things I needed as I went, but still I was missing something, and I would keep wondering the countryside until I found it.

As I moved along the street I saw a place to get a meal, so I went in and took a seat, the waitress, Doreen, looked at me, dusty, dirty from the travel, she said in a gruff voice, “you got money to pay?” I nodded, and she called out, “Amanda, this one is yours, don’t expect much though.” I looked at Amanda, the waitress, as she came towards my table, I quickly looked down so she could not see my expression, when she stood beside me, I did not look up, I just stared at the menu. “do you want to order now?” she said, I didn’t reply just pointed to coffee and a burger, she turned and left, later she brought the meal, placed it on the table and left without a word, I ate in silence, finished what had been given to me, left money on the table and walked out the door.

I found I could not talk to Amanda, she was so beautiful, and her voice was magical to my ears. I knew that she was someone special and that I had to find the courage to actually say something to her. But first I had to get cleaned up. I found a hotel, got a room, showered, changed, laid on the bed and accidently fell asleep instead of going back to the cafe.

I dreamt of this woman I had only just seen, I had not even spoken to her, but still there was something about her that moved my heart, my soul. I woke startled, one thought racing through my head, what if she already has someone in her life?

Quickly I freshened up, and hurriedly went to the café, there she was, smiling at the people she was serving, laughing, teasing. I could not take my eyes off her. She looked over, saw me looking at her and her face became solemn, “oh your back, I almost didn’t recognise you, your all cleaned up” a smile bursting from her lips, I smiled back, I must have seemed like an idiot, stuttering, I managed to say “hello” and sat down at an empty table, I ordered by pointing, she brought the meal, I ate, I paid and walked out, this went on for days, the same routine, until one day, I went in as usual but she wasn’t there. The first waitress I had met, Doreen, looked at me and laughed, “she’s on her day off.”

Doreen went on to say, “and Amanda told me that if you came in, I should send you to the park, down the street there and she will meet you at 10.00”. I was stunned, I actually said thankyou to Doreen which is really the first time anyone had heard me speak.

I rushed off to the park and waited there until 10, Amanda came in and sat down on a bench. I sat beside her, this time I spoke in a hushed tone, that my name is Henry and that I was incredibly happy to see her here in the park. We spoke for hours, talking, laughing. It was magical for me, I felt as if I was walking on air as I strode back to my hotel room.

I continued to go to the dinner every day, I actually spoke now, Amanda would have a warm smile for me, and we would chat in between customers. Then one day, she slips me a note, “don’t say anything” she said quietly, “take it home and read it.” When I left to return to my room I read the note, it was an invitation to her home for a meal and to discuss things in a more private setting.

The next evening, I went to the address she had given me, rang the bell and she answered quietly, once again I was stunned by her beauty, the warmth of her smile the sparkle of her eyes, we sat, we had some wine, a meal, we talked, and it was almost morning before we realised. I got up to leave thinking that Amanda would have to go to work soon. However, she looked at me, with a sparkle in her eyes, and a lovely devilish grin, “where do you think you’re going” she said, she grabbed my hand and pulled me close to her, and we kissed, long passionate kisses, holding each other, she led me to her bedroom where we made love for the remainder of the night. We stayed in bed the next day as well, holding each other, kissing each other.

I am still with Amanda, we have not been apart since that day and I have found what I was searching for, the love of a wonderful, intelligent, sensual woman, who has made me a better man for knowing her, she has become part of my soul, I love with all my heart.