Kitten II defrosted the freezer again today.
I was just in from the night’s book-related festivities (which I’ll talk about in the morning), and taken my sore feet across the road to pick up some non-liquid vanilla ice cream and suddenly, my very empty stomach had a very distinct craving.
And that is how I ended up in Gracie’s Diner, waiting for a Swiss cheese and tomato omelet -- to go.
The man on the other side of the Formica counter top called me sweetheart in a way that was neither suggestive nor condescending. Merely… perfunctory.
“Something to drink while you wait, sweetheart? Juice? Water?”
“No, thank you.”
“Coffee?”
I’m sure I sighed audibly. “Oh, yes. Coffee. Please. Decaf?”
“Of course, my dear.”
He filled the tiny pitcher with fresh cream and slid the sugar over. I wrapped my unmanicured fingers around the white ceramic and took a deep breath. Go, go, go had suddenly become full stop. For me anyway. The frenzy of activity continued around me, the short order cook, the manager and the delivery staff shouting back and forth to one another.
It was hard not to notice that for a place called Gracie’s, it was surprisingly… male. I imagined that Gracie herself had already put in a full day and was at home, reading a good book. In a hot bath.
My food was ready and my cup drained, so I left a tip for the coffee and made my way to the register to pay.
“That’s a very nice necklace. You look very pretty.”
Again, innocuous. Harmless. Complimentary.
“Thank you.” I smiled. “Have a good night.”
“You too, dear. You sleep well. Enjoy your food.”
I thanked the nice man again and flip-flopped my way across the street.
awesome. I guess NYC's not so scary at times.
question, though: how does Kitten defrost the freezer?
Posted by: tab at April 29, 2004 11:47 PMReason number 813 why I so badly want to visit the Big Apple... *sigh*
Posted by: cher at April 30, 2004 04:35 AMI love real diners like that. *sigh* how wonderful one's so close to you.
And how does Kitten II defrost the freezer?
Posted by: Autumn at April 30, 2004 07:42 AMdo you find that, when living in a big city, you become so accustomed to men saying horrible things to you that when you get a genuine, non-threatening compliment (of the sort you received), it takes you a few extra seconds to process and determine the appropriate response?
honestly. nothing like city summers to make a girl forget how to take a compliment.
Posted by: shivery at April 30, 2004 09:32 AMFormer Yankee David Wells had his teeth punched out there awhile back, the diner is also a fave haunt of former Mayor Rudy.
Maybe I'll see you again one day. Glad you had fun with your friends last night.
Posted by: Ari at April 30, 2004 11:29 AMKitten II sits on the edge of the door until it swings out. Lord knows why he does it, but it's something he finds he needs to do SEVERAL times a week lately.
Posted by: Fish at April 30, 2004 01:46 PMAren't nice, sweet, not-even-trying-to-get-in-your-pants compliments wonderful?
Posted by: HR Lady at April 30, 2004 08:50 PMNew York is lovely and one of the least scary places I've ever been! Anyway, I do rather like that cosy familiarity. Here it's "luv", "dear" or my favourite from a cabbie in Bath, "moi luvly".
Posted by: Lisa at May 1, 2004 12:17 PM