Rhi Axtell – Writer

The place was buzzing when we entered. The smell of roasted vegetables, the chatter of comfortable people, and the warmth from the chill outside were intoxicating. Julie had succumbed to my pleas once again to stop for something hot and caffeinated.

We sat at a table and waited. I fiddled with my phone. Julie read the menu. Someone nearby pressed a fork into a cake. The cake’s soft crust gave way easily. It looked moist and sweet. My stomach almost dragged me over to it.

Impatient, I glanced at the man behind the coffee bar. He was rushing between making coffees, sorting out the queue of people wanted to pay and trying to seat new people as they entered. He moved around the place, almost as a blur. He paused once, to meet my eyes. I quickly looked away, embarrassed. Oh god, had I been frowning?

He appeared moments later by our table, talking in quick, apologetic, French. We ordered and he sprinted off again. Julie informed me that his colleague had just gone on break. He was in charge of the whole place for the next half an hour – and it didn’t look like an easy job.

So this is an apology to that man who was working so hard to serve and keep everyone happy and was doing a great job at it, from the grumpy Englishman who accidentally frowned at him. Keep going. I hope you get a long break soon!