Sharing Conversations in Restaurants

The other night, I went out to a restaurant. Because, it was a date, I didn’t want to be rude and say, “Not tonight, honey. I’ve got a headache.” My only requirement was quiet. Not tomb quiet, but no blaring music, singing waitresses, or anyone dancing on my table.

 Now, I have told you before about the loud  party crowd in my community. This is why I thought going out without them, would be a rare treat. No conga lines.  No carrying Benny to the car after too many shots and a strip tease.  Just average quiet. After that dinner, I am thinking my community is like the inside of a monastery compared to the two women at the next table.

 Before dessert, I learned all about the shortcomings of their friends. That one’s college friend married a guy that Miss Loud had once babysat for.  Twenty years difference. Isn’t that weird? Isn’t that weird? Isn’t that weird? I got to hear that phrase more than enough. I thought I should share the pain. What was also weird was the college friend had once been someone who wanted to fight her. At which point, I wanted to say, “Maybe you became friends, because you shut up.” But, Mr. Greene doesn’t like when I start fights in restaurants.

 While, Mr. Greene went to pay the bill, I decided it was time to make some new friends. I waited for a lull in their conversation, then plopped down in the booth, right next to Miss Bleach Blond. “Hiii!! My name’s Adela. Since, you were so nice to share your conversation with those around you, I thought I would introduce myself and tell you my opinion on everything.”

Miss Loud opened her mouth to speak. Wearing my sweetest smile and in my sweetest voice, I said, “Shhh.. Don’t be rude! It won’t take long.” Then, I began to tell them all about my week. This included, a story about a young fellow in my neighborhood, who thinks he’s a poet or a Roman emperor. I realized this by the way he decided to wake everyone up at 3:37 in the morning, by standing in the middle of the road, giving a moving speech on what America means to him.

As I stood to recite the speech, Miss Bleach Blond and Miss Loud got up and started walking away. I continued the speech for their ears as they paid their bill and out to the parking lot. Mr. Greene honked the horn of his car. I could tell he wasn’t happy about waiting for me, again. But, I wanted to finish the speech, then ended it with, “Isn’t that weird?”

So, next time you’re out in a restaurant and think it’s a good idea to share your conversation with everyone around you, don’t act so alarmed, if one of the other patrons wishes to join in. After all, we all want to make new friends.