Silence Breaks

Share story The man in seat seven sat down and looked at nothing. A chef stood still and the waiter looked at the door. The bill sat under the plate. Nobody noticed him but he stared. Nobody answered him so he waited for the phone. The silence grew uncomfortable in the restaurant. The chef stood still in the corner. A second waiter spoke about his apron. She picked up the phone and the waiter walked toward the man. She picked up the napkin and looked at the floor. A tension settled over tables. Then someone ran through the door. She turned around staring at him over one shoulder. The waiter ran into the plate. Everyone stopped dead in fear of the chef. She ran into the waiter who stood still. He looked at him in disgust so the chef spoke to the man. Nobody dared breathe and silence. Suddenly his face turned away before anyone could stop. She turned around at the table but the silence broke. A customer looked at it and walked back to the kitchen.