Habits

The other night I ventured out to enjoy a quiet dinner at my neighborhood sushi restaurant. Alone. It was an amazing fall evening and I wanted to sit on the patio and eat while I did some writing. So that's what I did.

Until the annoying man sat down three tables away.

I knew he was going to be a problem as soon as he arrived. The first thing he did was unfold his napkin and shake it. And he did it with the intensity it would take to snap at the most ginormous fly on the planet. But it went straight into his lap. . And the napkin pop triggered about 10 very loud sneezes. In a row. While  I was trying to enjoy my sushi. Gross.

Now that his napkin was in place, he was ready to prep his chopsticks. And he did in a way I've never seen it done before. Usually people will quietly rub them together to knock off any stray splinters. Well, this guy rubbed and tapped them so loud it was like a drummer in a band counting off the next song.

Yes, we see you, sir.

Are these habits? Things he does every day?

My eyes went from my salmon to my laptop screen and back. But you know when you can feel someone staring? Everyone's felt it. And he was. Awkwardly.

Finally the owner sat down with him. They talked about whatever - and the man had a really loud voice. But the owner left too soon.

And the man started talking to me!

"Can you believe what he just said to me?" he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders and continued staring at my screen and typing. I had already mentioned him in the text conversation I was having with my friend.

"You look like you're working so hard," he said.

I nodded. "Yes, I am working."

"What are you working on?"

"Something I'm writing." I know. It was a bit of a cop out, but it was none of his business. And yes, I was working.

Then my pone wrang. It was my friend calling to rescue me. Amazing. Some day I hope to reach the point where I don't have to get rescued from men.

Love to the single girls,
Addison