without spilling a thing

Story of the day

without spilling a thing

Written by Cathoel Jorss

This beautiful waiter was so caring and funny, he stood for five minutes as a very young guest chose his pizza, then I saw him across the room carrying a fully-laden table with quivering wine glasses, all without spilling a thing. He had flourish and verve but was not show-offy. Afterwards I bailed him up by the register. “We think you have a lot of charisma, a lot of character. My partner reckons you have that gleam in your eye – the gleam of stardom. We think you can do anything you want to with your life. You probably already know this. But in case you didn’t – I wanted to tell you.”

I thought he might think, who are these people and what do they want from me. I made my companion wait outside in the cold afternoon light so it wouldn’t seem cheesy, like a deputation. The waiter’s face warmed and broadened. As soon as I finished speaking, shyness struck, I ran out of the restaurant. He was still looking after me as I rounded the last corner: “Goodbye! Thank you!” I darted upstairs to the street. “Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend!”

~ 2013, Brisbane

2 0

Latest Stories

worldburn

worldburn

Today in a cafe two small incidents seemed to me to illustrate the forms of self-involvement that are more common to women, and to men.A man walked in and ordered a coffee at the counter. ...read more

shriveled bulb of god

shriveled bulb of god

My stomach feels like a shrivelled bulb after two martinis, no dinner. Whoever invented alcohol is my god: right now, my god. The last time I had one of those (a martini, a god) was ...read more

gulp it

gulp it

Last night I went out for jazz and at the bar a man nibbling on the rim of his beer said thoughtfully, You are doing such a great job tonight. I said, Thanks! Then: Great ...read more

mexicocoa

mexicocoa

Yesterday I was at my friend's place after a thunderstorm and she had a little curving highway of ants running up over her wall, so tiny they looked like caterpillar's eyelashes, and I said look! ...read more

cane toddler

cane toddler

I was lying on my bed reading in the stifling heat today and a cane toad went hopping past my door. I found him in the hallway looking inscrutably lumpy, there followed a prolonged episode ...read more

funny how

supermerch

supermerch

In the supermarket I queued for the African check out dude who's always calm in ...read more

i wish

knowing one another in the dark

knowing one another in the dark

Knowing one another in the dark: this is life in the wintertime, in Germany. Three ...read more

imagine if

the ride home was the best party

the ride home was the best party

Imagine a lake. It is vast and extends, if you swim out to the middle ...read more

kindness of strangers

super moon to the rescue

super moon to the rescue

A knock at the door when we finally trudge home, carrying our groceries, exhausted. It's ...read more

street life

watching over you

watching over you

I saw a boy cross the road with his little sister. At the curb he ...read more

taking care of the place

stay with me

stay with me

Once an Islander man stepped out onto the pavement as I was passing. We both ...read more