Table for Two
(Written by Kirsten Burgess)
He sits by himself at a table for two.
The uniformed waiter returns to his side and asks, "Would you like to go ahead and
order, sir?" The man has, after all, been waiting since seven o'clock -- almost half
an hour.
"No, thank you," the man smiles. "I'll wait for her a while longer. How
about some more coffee?"
"Certainly, sir."
The man sits, his clear blue eyes gazing straight through the flowered centerpiece. He
fingers his napkin,
allowing the sounds of light chatter, tinkling silverware, and mellow music to fill his
mind.
He is dressed in sport coat and tie. His dark brown hair is neatly combed, but one stray
lock insists on dropping to his forehead. The scent of his cologne adds to his clean cut
image. He is dressed up enough to make a companion feel important, respected, loved. Yet
he is not so formal as to make one uncomfortable. It seems that he has taken every
precaution to make others feel at ease with him.
Still, he sits alone.
The waiter returns to fill the man's coffee cup. "Is there anything else I can get
for you, sir?"
"No, thank you."
The waiter remains standing at the table. Something tugs at his curiosity. "I don't
mean to pry, but . . ." His
voice trails off. This line of conversation could jeopardize his tip.
"Go ahead," the man encourages. His is strong, yet sensitive, inviting
conversation.
"Why do you bother waiting for her?" the waiter finally blurts out. This man has
been at the restaurant other evenings, always patiently alone.
Says the man quietly, "Because she needs me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Well, sir, no offense, but assuming that she needs you, she sure isn't acting much
like it. She's stood you up three times just this week."
The man winces, and looks down at the table. "Yes, I know."
"Then why do you still come here and wait?"
"Cassie said that she would be here."
"She's said that before," the waiter protests. "I wouldn't put up with it.
Why do you?"
Now the man looks up, smiles at the waiter, and says simply, "Because I love
her."
The waiter walks away, wondering how one could love a girl who stands him up three times a
week. The man must be crazy, he decides. Across the room, he turns to look at the man
again.
The man slowly pours cream into his coffee. He twirls his spoon between his fingers a few
times before stirring sweetener into his cup. After staring for a moment into the liquid,
the man brings the cup to his mouth and sips, silently watching those around him.
He doesn't look crazy, the waiter admits. Maybe the girl has qualities that I don't know
about. Or maybe the
man's love is stronger than most. The waiter shakes himself out of his musings to take an
order from a party of five.
The man watches the waiter, wonders if he's ever been stood up. The man has, many times.
But he still can't get used to it. Each time, it hurts. He's looked forward to this
evening all day. He has many things, exciting things, to tell Cassie. But, more
importantly, he wants to hear Cassie's voice.
He wants her to tell him all about her day, her triumphs, her defeats . . . anything,
really. He has tried so many times to show Cassie how much he loves her. He'd just like to
know that she cares for him, too. He sips sporadically at the coffee, and loses himself in
thought, knowing that Cassie is late, but still hoping that she will arrive.
The clock says nine-thirty when the waiter returns to the man's table. "Is there
anything I can get for you?"
The still empty chair stabs at the man. "No, I think that will be all for tonight.
May I have the check please?"
"Yes, sir."
When the waiter leaves, the man picks up the check. He pulls out his wallet and signs. He
has enough money to have given Cassie a feast. But he takes out only enough to pay for his
five cups of coffee and the tip. Why do you do this, Cassie, his mind cries as he gets up
from the table.
"Good-bye," the waiter says, as the man walks towards the door.
"Good night. Thank you for your service."
"You're welcome, sir," says the waiter softly, for he sees the hurt in the man's
eyes that his smile doesn't hide.
The man passes a laughing young couple on his way out, and his eyes glisten as he thinks
of the good time he and Cassie could have had. He stops at the front and makes
reservations for tomorrow. Maybe Cassie will be able to make it, he thinks.
"Seven o'clock tomorrow for party of two?" the hostess confirms.
"That's right," the man replies.
"Do you think she'll come?" asks the hostess. She doesn't mean to be rude, but
she has watched the man many times alone at his table for two.
"Someday, yes. And I will be waiting for her." The man buttons his overcoat and
walks out of the restaurant, alone. His shoulders are hunched, but through the windows the
hostess can only guess whether they are hunched against the wind or against the man's
hurt.
As the man turns toward home, Cassie turns into bed. She is tired after an evening out
with friends. As she
reaches toward her night stand to set the alarm, she sees the note that she scribbled to
herself last night.
"7:00," it says. "Spend some time in prayer." Darn, she thinks. She
forgot again. She feels a twinge of guilt, but quickly pushes it aside. She needed that
time with her friends. And now she needs her sleep. She can pray tomorrow night.
Jesus will forgive her.
And she's sure He doesn't mind.
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads
to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings
death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)
