The Scribbled Napkin

Dwayne brushed back his sleeve for the umpteenth time. The consistent ticking of his Rolex watch taunted him, as well as the voluptuous figured waitress who continued to return to the small table meant for two.

            “Sir, would you like more bread, or maybe an appetizer while you wait?” The waitress spoke softly as he checked his cell phone, secretly grateful that she didn’t say “date” at the end of her sentence.

            No messages. Dwayne sighed before he set his cell phone down next to his perfectly placed silverware, and replied, “No, thank you. Umm, I’ll just take a cup of coffee with one cream—thanks.”

            The waitress lightly spread a small smile. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

            As she strutted away, Dwayne stared at the vacant chair across the table. It, too, was mocking him. He was certain that if the chair could speak, it would laugh at him hysterically.

            Everyone in the restaurant hummed in conversation. Maybe they all were buzzing about him, the lonely accountant that would never land a girl like Nancy Jones. How pathetic Dwayne felt to think the blonde bombshell bank teller actually was interested in him. He should have known a few months prior after he asked Nancy many times to go out, and all those times were answered with a handful of excuses.

Maybe she’d be keener on the new teller Brian. After all, Brian has well-trimmed hair and a more toned body than Dwayne did. Not that he forgot how Brian was able to make Nancy giggle and draw her in closer when they talked. Dwayne just thought that he actually had an opportunity to possibly be Nancy’s knight in shining armor or in reality her nerd in shining tin foil. Though, he had to admit it—Brian and Nancy would be the cookie-cutter couple of Ken and Barbie.

            He had been patiently waiting an hour for the gorgeous Nancy to arrive. Dwayne finally convinced himself what the face of his watch had been telling him all along. He had been stood up. He picked up his phone again, debating whether or not to call Nancy for the third time and leave a voicemail this time. Maybe if he did leave a voicemail it would warm her heartstrings to call back, telling him that she’d be right there or that she was on her way. Or maybe it was all pointless and he was feeding himself false hope.

            “Here’s your coffee, one cream. It’s fresh.” The waitress beamed as she carefully placed the porcelain cup and saucer next to the empty wine glass. “And it’s on the house.”

            Dwayne peered up at her and this time actually focused more. The waitress had lovely pink carnation lips. Her mocha colored hair framed her face. Her dark locks brightened her pale green eyes that reminded Dwayne of the season of spring.

            The waitress smiled once more before stepping towards Dwayne. She leaned down lasciviously and whispered in his ear, “If it’s any consolation, I wouldn’t have stood you up.”

            The words stunned him for a moment, enough to make him pause before turning his head to see the waitress walking back to the doors of the kitchen. Her voice had triggered goose bumps on his arms. He turned back around and stared at the vacant chair still mocking him.   

            Dwayne broke his trance to sip his warm coffee. He went to set the cup down and he noticed a paper napkin underneath the saucer. Something was scribbled on an outer corner of the napkin. He lifted the saucer, exposing a written message. It was a phone number and under that was the name “Amy” and a smiley face.

            “Amy” didn’t come back out of the kitchen. While Dwayne drank his coffee he checked when he faintly heard the kitchen doors open. He finished his coffee and tucked the napkin in his pocket before he left, leaving a tip underneath the saucer.

            As Dwayne drove home, it began to rain. He lightly pulled his vehicle to a stop at a red light. He heard his phone beep in his pocket. He dug it out and peered at it quickly. It was a message from Nancy. It read: I’m sorry. I forgot I made dinner plans with a friend tonight.

Dwayne sighed deeply and set his phone in the passenger seat. As he went to twist on his windshield wipers saw Nancy through a brightly lit restaurant window. She was giggling and smiling. She was giggling and smiling next to Brian, who was flaunting a set of pristine teeth back at her. They both sat so closely at the small table that both of their arms were touching.

He looked back at the red light for a moment that flooded the inside of his car. He then pulled out the napkin out of his pocket. Dwayne was faintly able to see the phone number, “Amy”, and the smiley face scratched onto it. He grinned back at the smiley face on the napkin just as the light flourished green onto the dash. The green reminded him of Amy’s eyes all the way home.