Bon Anniversaire

“Firing apps for table 27!” Corinna heard through the chaos of the kitchen. She slid the tray under her arm and quickly walked toward the line.

“This is mine?” She yelled over everyone else. The chef nodded; she scooped up the two shrimp cocktail glasses and balanced them evenly as the tray rested on her shoulder. Corinna blew past the kitchen doors and delivered the appetizers. “Is there anything else I can get for you folks right now?” Her customer service voice was flawless.

“A glass of merlot, please.” The woman at the table flashed a wide grin; her blonde hair that was pulled back into a tight ponytail exposed her entire face.

Corinna nodded and looked over at the old man. Up until this point she hadn’t paid much attention to the older man she sat across from, the much older man.

“I’m fine, thank you.” He smiled genuinely.

“I’ll grab that merlot for you and be back soon with your entrees.” Corinna gagged as soon as she turned her back and headed toward the bar. “I need a glass of merlot, STAT.” She pounded on the counter and whistled at Ken, the bartender.

“Corinna,” Ken sighed with exasperation. “You’re not the only one who needs drinks tonight, I have 5 ahead of you.” Corinna rolled her eyes and focused them upon the old man and the attractive woman.

“Did you see that?” She whined, pointing them out. “Absolutely no shame whatsoever.” She scoffed. Ken looked over his shoulder at the couple.

“Maybe it's his daughter or granddaughter.” He shrugged.

“Family members play footsie under the table? Yeah, okay.” She snorted.

“Give him a break, he’s probably gonna die within the next 5 minutes. Let him have the good time he paid for.” Ken replied, handing her the merlot.

“Thank you” Corinna mouthed back at Ken; she turned around to deliver the drink with the old man alone at the table.

“Here is the merlot for the lady and I’ll be right back with your entrees.” The old man looked up with a half smile and nodded. Corinna made rounds at her other tables, running back and forth for extra straws, salt, ranch and caught up with the elderly man's entrees for him and his first date. When she returned to the dining room, Corinna noticed he was still sitting alone. “Alright, I have the veal parmesan and the nicoise salad for the lady.” He nodded, looking down quietly.

“Is there anything else I can get for you, sir?”

“No thank you, but would you mind checking on my date? She went to the restroom a little while ago.” His raspy voice croaked.

“Of course,” Corinna smiled through gritted teeth.

“Her name is Brandi.”

Of course it is. Corinna sighed internally. “I’ll be right back.” She assured him. She wove her way through the full tables and into the restroom. “Hello?” She popped her head in and looked around, her voice still echoing behind her. Corinna heard a sniffle come from one of the stalls. “Brandi?”

“Who is it?” Brandi’s voice replied back hastily.

“I’m one of the servers here, your date just wanted to make sure you were okay.” Corinna replied awkwardly. The toilet flushed and Brandi waltzed out, a white powder on the top of her nose; she leaned over the sink and looked at herself in the mirror, dusting off the powdery substance with the tip of her finger.

“I’m fine.” She replied with a canny grin. “Can you just tell him that something came up and I had to jet.” She placed her hand on Corinna’s shoulder and winked. “Thanks doll.”

“Um, actually, I think you should be the one to tell him actually.” Corinna could hear the irritation in her voice. “I’d rather not get involved.”

Brandi looked Corinna up and down and scoffed.

“I don’t have to do shit,” She waved back at Corinna and left her alone in the bathroom, seething.

She pushed through the bathroom door aggressively and stood in the hallway, watching the old man sitting at the table patiently.

“I don’t get paid enough for this,” Corinna muttered under her breath. She approached the table gingerly and apologetically.

“Hi there, sir?” She spoke loudly and clearly. “I’m sorry I didn’t see anyone in the bathroom, I’m sorry.” The old man nodded and smiled.

“Maybe she stepped out for a moment.” He replied. “I’ll wait for her to come back.” Corinna nodded and walked back to the kitchen to finish out her other tables.

Every once in a while, through the chaos, she would catch a glimpse of the old man, sitting at the table alone, letting his food grow cold.

“Man, I feel kind of bad for him,” Corinna groaned. “And I don’t want to. He’s just another dirty old geezer but he looks so sad waiting there.” She grumbled. “He still hasn’t even touched his food.”

“Hey Corinna,” The manager motioned for her, struggling to grab her attention. “Finish up your tables and head home.” She nodded and cashed out the few tables she had left and rounded back to the old man.

“Sir, would you like me to grab you another drink?” She forced a polite and apologetic smile.

“No, that’s alright.” He set a few paper bills on the table and stood up.

“Would you like me to box up your food?”

“No thank you,” He smiled. “Have a good night.”

“Thank you sir, you as well.” Corinna waved; she cleared out his table and hung her apron up for the night.

“Bye guys, see you tomorrow.” She yelled at the kitchen. She left through the back and rounded the corner toward the parking lot where she noticed the old man sitting on the bench. “Sir?” Corinna approached him slowly. He was startled and looked over at her, wiping the tears from his eyes. “My name is Corinna, I was your server tonight. Are you okay?”

“Yes,” He replied, his voice was weary. “I’m okay.” He smiled.

“Sir, do you have a way to get home?” She asked. He grew silent and shook his head. “Come on,” Corrinna waved him over to follow her. The two sat in silence besides the bumps in the road that made her old car screech.

“My wife died a few years back.” The old man said quietly. “I’ve been having a hard time dealing with her passing. Today is my birthday and I didn’t want to spend it alone, so,” He trailed off. “Brandi picked me up from my house because I can’t drive anymore.” His shoulders slumped down and she could hear the warbling in his voice. “I just wanted company.”

Corinna felt her stomach drop with guilt from all the nasty comments she had made about him earlier. “I was so desperate to connect with someone. She had seen my wife’s necklace and asked to wear it to make my birthday special, and I foolishly said yes.” He sighed in defeat.

“I’m so sorry” She said, barely audible.

“I should have been more careful.” He shrugged apologetically. Corinna pulled up to his small cozy home and parked off the street. “Thank you for showing me kindness.” He smiled; the old man got up from the car and hobbled toward the sidewalk.

“Wait!” Corinna blurted out. “You didn’t tell me your name.”

“It’s Hugh.”

“Nice to meet you Hugh. Be safe. Goodnight.” She waved at him until he reached the steps to his home and slowly climbed over the threshold. Corinna immediately grabbed her phone and dialed Ken’s number.

“Corinna, I literally cannot understand anything you’re saying; you’re talking way too fast.” Ken sighed.

“And THEN, she fucking stole his dead wife’s necklace!” She screamed with frustration, her foot on the gas pedal.

“At least you know he wasn’t a dirty old man.” She could hear Ken was half concentrated on their conversation but she could also hear the lazer sounds of his alien video game in the background. The intersection light turned red and the car lurched as she hit the brake.

“I just feel awful for making those assumptions.” She whined.

“I would’ve thought the same thing.” Ken added. Corinna looked off to the side and saw a woman with a sleek pulled back ponytail and a necklace around her bony neck.

“BRANDI.” She said through gritted teeth.

“What?” Ken’s voice was barely audible as she hung up and flung her phone into the passenger's seat.

“Hey Brandi!” She yelled, stumbling out of her car. Brandi whipped around defensive and blew a smoke ring into the air.

“Who the fuck are you?” She scoffed, pointing at her with her lit cigarette.

“I work at the restaurant you were at tonight, with Hugh.”

“I don’t recall.” Brandi replied nonchalantly.

“You bailed on dinner with Hugh, the old man, and I found you snorting angel dust in the bathroom? Do you recall that?” She crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. Brandi winced and took another drag of her cigarette.

“And?” She replied defensively.

“AND, you have his deceased wife’s necklace and I want it back.” Corinna extended her hand for the piece of jewelry; Brandi laughed and pulled the necklace off and tossed it into Corrinna’s hands.

“Keep it, it’s trash anyways.” She left Corinna on the sidewalk and continued her walk downtown.

Corinna crossed the street and slammed her car door shut. “What a terrible, awful woman.” She screeched, hitting the steering wheel in frustration. She sped off down the road, and cruised through the town until she found herself back in front of Hugh’s house. She knocked ferociously until he opened the door.

“Corinna?” A sleepy Hugh rubbed his tired eyes. “It’s past 10:00pm, what are you doing here?” Corinna dug into her pocket and pulled out the jade jeweled necklace and placed it in his hands with a grin.

“Happy birthday Hugh.”

** I do not own the photo provided**