Lunch break
When people choose to interact as social
beings, they add some extra to the ordinary life.
This
is an ExtraOrdinary story of two strangers forced by the circumstances to have lunch
at the same table and focuses on the inner perception of one of the characters.
Elevator:
"přízemí- first floor”. I just became an ant and I'm hungry.
Spielberk
Office Centre in Holandska is full during lunchtime. I like watching people from
the office window whenever I have a break. They seem to be ants leaving from or
coming to their anthill in patterns. Most of them get inside their specific
entrance between 7:30-8:30AM individually. At lunchtime may form pairs or
groups following certain routes in their search for food. Between 4:30-5:30PM
leave the most. You may see a rewind of the morning route, except for the fact that
some of them form small groups now.
The
doors of the building open wide. They promise a sense of freedom and fresh air.
The wind is playing with my hair for a crazy hairstyle. I don’t mind. My hair
always seemd to have a personality of its own no matter my taming methods.
I
follow the route to one of my favorite places to eat. As crowded as usually. I
spot a 2 seat table-mine! Hmm, this dish looks yummy. Decided! I wait, check
time, Facebook’s latest news, messages.
Delicious mixed scent seduces my nose. Tic tac, tic tac. Food arrived and is as
good as it looks. A man comes closer obviously looking for a seat. Says
something pointing to the free seat but the crowd is noisy and I cannot even
distinguish if it's Czech or English. I'm not comfortable, but I understand the
situation: hungry guy, no time to waste, no seats. I admire he had the courage
to ask and because of that now I really doubt he is local. I smile politely and
raise my hand opened as an invitation to sit down. I'm eating while he is
waiting for his plate. I can see him watching me, started from hands, stops to
observe the map on my watch, continues, no eye contact. His meal arrived. He
looks directly into my eyes then to the plate, at me again and smiles. No need
for words- I understand and he knows it- we ordered the same food. I take my
next bite and say "mmm" to express taste appreciation and watching
his reaction: he smiles. What a nice smile! He takes his first bite and replies
"mmm mmm". I involuntary laugh. He seems pleased with my reaction. “Hei,
you're playful” my mind whispered. We continued eating smiling every time our
eyes met. I wonder when adults lost this type on interaction children have so
easily. No intention, not overanalyzing. He adds some pepper and before putting
it back made a gesture as asking if I want it. I move my head left to right
that I do not and he understands, therefore he’s not from Bulgaria where the
same sign means yes.
I
almost finished so I have a short look at him while eating. I feel entitled as
he did the same. I like what I see. I just observe without making assumptions
based on appearance. The sun highlights half of his face. He has at least 3
different colors of hair in his beard. This observation made me smile. For a
second I've got lost into hazel eyes. Oh! I need to go; my mind woke me up like
morning alarm. Tic tac, tic tac. I put on my coat in a hurry. He seems
surprised, drops the fork but doesn’t seem to care about it and moves back his
chair a little. While he made his first sound in an attempt to say something I
stopped for a moment and felt as time itself stopped just for this little
table. I looked into his eyes and touched my index finger against my lips:
Pssst! I winked as closing our mute conversation and left the stranger into the
noisy conglomeration of ants.
Is
the sun brighter on my return? Were the ducks on the lake? How cute! I really
like Holandska- looks like a piece of Holland. Petrov, you are beautiful too,
no need to remind me we’re actually in
the heart of Brno. What is the plan for the weekend? I need to reply that
e-mail as soon as I get back! What time is it, am I late? I need to pass by the
post office in the afternoon!
Ding!
"Přízemí-
first floor- elevator is going up”. Yes, elevator, make me human again! I
thought. “You are an ant” the elevator replied.
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