The Extraordinary Café
-Pixabay.com
The warm smell of fresh brownies drifted across the cafe, ducking under the tables, squeezing through chairs, urged on by the fans; it flew. A gooey batch, chocolate chips still soft, had appeared on the counter. So loudly rang the placing of the tray, that Matt’s eyes glanced over, his mouth already watering, and so the enticing aroma managed to make him half consider ordering two.
Over Matt’s head, a clock's hand ticked a steady background beat, drawing his attention. For all wandering eyes, it was ten to two; she was twenty minutes late. A huff of impatience escaped his cracked lips, his mind drifting back to the crowded room.
An elderly man sat slouched at the table across from him, his broadsheet newspaper out of place in a room full of faces glazed by the light of phone screens. Matt‘s hand instinctively touched his own in his pocket. If he got it out, his eyes would be glued hard to it, in case the light flashed. His mind knew it would vibrate, but the flash came first. It was an addiction he couldn’t fight. Not to the phone. To her.
His mind buzzed and beeped, unable to fight the itch of wonder…
”...where was she?”
The old man‘s mouth let go of a cough, accompanying the symphony of crinkling as he flipped a page. Matt’s eyes darted up, accidentally catching his gaze, the man smiled at him eagerly folding the paper away.
Matt’s mind shuddered, cursing itself as the man rose, heading towards him. As soon as the stranger came within ear shot, Matt called out trying to put him off.
“Sorry mate, i’m waiting for someone.”
The grin over the worn face widened.
“Someone who still ain’t here yet, ‘ow about a bit of company, to help with the waiting? Whatcha say?”
Put on the spot, Matt’s thoughts already ablaze, he found himself nodding before reason could interject. The flame in his mind was inundated with worries and the urge to call her now - to see where oh where she was. Matt didn’t have the patience for small talk, but it was too late; the elderly man was lowering himself into the chair opposite.
The chair eeking with the slow applying pressure of aching joints, a wry smile found itself on the old man’s lips. In the opposite side of tension: a forced smile began forming on Matt’s dry lips, his hand quivering but extending for an introduction.
"I am Kamil Briere. I could use some company, a few words is all. At my age few words is all I can do." Again the wry smile sought to calm Matt.
Matt shook the gnarled hand, feeling the wrinkles and the dry skin but a fine grip still. "Of Course!" He heard himself say. "I'm Matt."
The old man raised his hand and caught the server's eye. "Two Brownies please."
"But.." He cut off Matt's protest. "Son, they are really good and I want to share the joy."
"I know." Matt whispered to himself. Then shaking his head as if to wake up fully he said to the old man. "I should leave.."
Kamil slapped his arm lightly with fingers like dried roots. "Hey relax. I will go away if you want. But have the brownie. See; it is on it's way already. Then he placed his palms on the table, elbows pointing out- gearing to get up. "No. That's fine. I just remembered something that..Never mind." Consciously he set aside his yearning and tried to stay calm. "That is well." Kamil relaxed back in to the chair. Matt stayed silent watching him carefully sit and before the silence could stretch the brownies arrived.
Matt did not hear Kamil's "Aah". His mind had locked on to the delicious looking moist and warm squares; the enticing aroma of melting chocolate and baked cocoa triggering his emotions into turmoil. With a fierce will he managed to keep his hand steady as he cut into a corner of the brownie with the plastic spoon. The brownie parted revealing the melted choco-chips which separated into rich strands as Matt lifted the spoon. "This chocolate is melting my heart."
Matt froze. "What did you say?" He glared at Kamil. "That is Lisha's line you said - Who are you?" He growled through clenched teeth; the brownies momentarily forgotten.
"I am Kamil Briere, Lisha's uncle- the one overseas." Kamil replied meeting Matt's glare steadily. Matt did not reply but sat as he was, the only difference being that his eyes were beginning to fill up with tears of grief. Kamil continued in a gentle voice. "It has been four months Matt. Your mother called me. You are breaking Lisha's heart by clinging to her death and not respecting her life. Matt she would hate to see you like this."
Matt sighed wiping the tears that leaked out. "We came here every Saturday, same time, around One- thirty. She loved these brownies. Lisha was..."
"And Lisha would like it if you remembered her fondly." Kamil interrupted his thoughts. "But you need to let go Matt. Say your goodbyes and treasure the happy memories."
"But.... I can't. I want her to walk in Now. With her lopsided smile and.."
"Stop It! You are not a ten year old and she was not your favorite toy. Moping and wallowing in emotions will destroy your happiness and her happy memories. Act grown up and cherish those moments. Whatever you do Matt don't you dare blame Lisha for dying. No one wants to die." Kamil threw a couple of notes on the table and stalked out on arthritic legs.
For a few moments Matt sat there looking blankly. Then the aroma of the brownies brought him back, he was still holding the first spoonful of the dense chocolaty concoction. He ate the first spoonful and the next and quickly finished the whole brownie. Then he whispered a goodbye- to Lisha and his old self. "This will always be Lisha's brownie, my own way out of trouble.
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