15 more minutes and i'll be home..Tom told his wife for the zillionth time..The incessant calls and the less than patient conversations were getting to him..But she was not to be blamed..They had planned for this dinner date for more than a month ..and Tom's client Mr.Allan was ruining it..
4:45 pm on a friday,he gets the call..'Hello Tom, how are you? you getting ready for the weekend?By the way can you send me a report..It is an emergency..life and death'..Even the simplest things for Mr.Allan is life and death ..From a 5 minutes delay on the metro to the local grocery store running out of his favorite yellow bell pepper..that being Mr.Allan ,the report was no different..
Tom scurried around the office..Having collected all the reports, he ran to the fax machine..What do you know, the papers got jammed..Oh no you dont, he muttered and gave the machine a kick..If you'd seen the movie 'Armageddon' You'll understand the relationship Tom had with his temperamental fax machine..Like the Russian Scientist pounding on the spaceship to make it work, his machine need a few kicks too..And she worked like a charm..
Finally the wife and Tom made it to the Italian restaurant, an hour late..Thanks very much Mr.Allan, Tom muttered listening to his wife's lecture on punctuality ..The restaurant was packed..The line was long, but since they had reserved a table, dodging the dirty looks, they walked into the reception area..The stiff waiter asked for their names and the reservation time..
In a dull but accusing voice he said 'you are late and unfortunately we could no longer hold on to your reservation', he said tonelessly..'You are kidding',yelled his wife..'I dont kid when it comes to work madam' said the waiter giving her an injured look..Tom tries next, 'we are sorry to have come late, can you please find us a table, we'd appreciate it much' , he said ..'I am sorry sir, we have no tables available and you saw the line outside' the waiter was adamant..With no other option, they decided to go to another Italian restaurant..All the way Tom could feel his wife's eyes shooting darts at him..Thanks Mr.Allan, he mutters yet again..
The restaurant was not big and the table in the corner was dingy and dark..Tom could hardly see the silverware in the dull light..Maybe it was a good thing, he dint have to see his fuming wife..He ordered a glass of chardonnay for the both of them, hoping very badly that the wine would chill her a little..The waiter arrived with their wine and the very first sip, he sensed trouble ..The wine was not crisp nor cold..A drab luke warm wine, did no wonders for his wife or their conversation..Maybe the appetizer would be better, he hoped.. The Tomato and Basil Bruschetta was soggy and stale..Amidst more complains, they ordered the second course, Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce..Please be good, he pleaded with the invisible culinary god ..talk about a bummer again..Tom was loosing hope..What a disaster and all thanks to Mr.Allan..I hope the report was really worth it..Dessert was Tiramisu and Espresso..It wasnt bad ..They gulped it down with the warm but not hot espresso and asked for the check..
He was in for another nasty surprise ..The bill was for half his pay check..What a night he thought to himself, walking out of the restaurant...But at least it can't get any worse he thought..The gods disagreed.. Boom went the tires on the car on their way home..He pulled over to the side of the road and turned to look at his wife with a sinking heart..
Maybe it was the wine or the beautiful star filled sky, his wife did not complain for the first time that evening..They relaxed, even laughed and shared a few jokes..Like young lovers, they held hands and sat looking at the starry skies..Warm and cuddling together, they lost track of time and the fixed flat..Reaching home around midnight and in the comfort of their own bed, ' i had the best night ever Tom, thank you' murmured his wife softly, before falling asleep in his arms..
Thank You Mr.Allan, whispered Tom with a smile, letting sweet slumber take over..
4:45 pm on a friday,he gets the call..'Hello Tom, how are you? you getting ready for the weekend?By the way can you send me a report..It is an emergency..life and death'..Even the simplest things for Mr.Allan is life and death ..From a 5 minutes delay on the metro to the local grocery store running out of his favorite yellow bell pepper..that being Mr.Allan ,the report was no different..
Tom scurried around the office..Having collected all the reports, he ran to the fax machine..What do you know, the papers got jammed..Oh no you dont, he muttered and gave the machine a kick..If you'd seen the movie 'Armageddon' You'll understand the relationship Tom had with his temperamental fax machine..Like the Russian Scientist pounding on the spaceship to make it work, his machine need a few kicks too..And she worked like a charm..
Finally the wife and Tom made it to the Italian restaurant, an hour late..Thanks very much Mr.Allan, Tom muttered listening to his wife's lecture on punctuality ..The restaurant was packed..The line was long, but since they had reserved a table, dodging the dirty looks, they walked into the reception area..The stiff waiter asked for their names and the reservation time..
In a dull but accusing voice he said 'you are late and unfortunately we could no longer hold on to your reservation', he said tonelessly..'You are kidding',yelled his wife..'I dont kid when it comes to work madam' said the waiter giving her an injured look..Tom tries next, 'we are sorry to have come late, can you please find us a table, we'd appreciate it much' , he said ..'I am sorry sir, we have no tables available and you saw the line outside' the waiter was adamant..With no other option, they decided to go to another Italian restaurant..All the way Tom could feel his wife's eyes shooting darts at him..Thanks Mr.Allan, he mutters yet again..
The restaurant was not big and the table in the corner was dingy and dark..Tom could hardly see the silverware in the dull light..Maybe it was a good thing, he dint have to see his fuming wife..He ordered a glass of chardonnay for the both of them, hoping very badly that the wine would chill her a little..The waiter arrived with their wine and the very first sip, he sensed trouble ..The wine was not crisp nor cold..A drab luke warm wine, did no wonders for his wife or their conversation..Maybe the appetizer would be better, he hoped.. The Tomato and Basil Bruschetta was soggy and stale..Amidst more complains, they ordered the second course, Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce..Please be good, he pleaded with the invisible culinary god ..talk about a bummer again..Tom was loosing hope..What a disaster and all thanks to Mr.Allan..I hope the report was really worth it..Dessert was Tiramisu and Espresso..It wasnt bad ..They gulped it down with the warm but not hot espresso and asked for the check..
He was in for another nasty surprise ..The bill was for half his pay check..What a night he thought to himself, walking out of the restaurant...But at least it can't get any worse he thought..The gods disagreed.. Boom went the tires on the car on their way home..He pulled over to the side of the road and turned to look at his wife with a sinking heart..
Maybe it was the wine or the beautiful star filled sky, his wife did not complain for the first time that evening..They relaxed, even laughed and shared a few jokes..Like young lovers, they held hands and sat looking at the starry skies..Warm and cuddling together, they lost track of time and the fixed flat..Reaching home around midnight and in the comfort of their own bed, ' i had the best night ever Tom, thank you' murmured his wife softly, before falling asleep in his arms..
Thank You Mr.Allan, whispered Tom with a smile, letting sweet slumber take over..
