Flight of the Monarch

The small shack was darkly lit and Hayley could scarcely read the menu in front of her. She could see that Austin was also having a difficult time.

"I don't need to read this. I know exactly what I want."

The waiter approached the table and picked up the menu as Austin laid it down. "Give me the best steak in the house, with a side of potato."

"How would you like it, sir?"

"Well done please."

Hayley closed her menu and handed it to the server.

"I will have the same, with a glass of water." As the waiter nodded and left the table, Hayley smiled at her friend.

"Do you come here often?"

"Not really. This is my second visit, since I left home."

"You never did say why you left home."

"No, I never did." Austin reached for his napkin, creased and folded it.

The waiter came back to the table with Hayley's glass of water. She picked it up and took a sip as she searched Austin's eyes, trying to read his thoughts. "You aren't any better at folding napkins than I am at tying rope." Hayley giggled. He continued to occupy himself with the napkin, as though he had not heard her comment. "I hope your dinner is delicious. I would hate to think your evening would be a total loss."

Austin returned from the fog. "What do you mean?"

"Something seems to be bothering you, or you're not happy to be here."

"Hayley, I'm sorry, I wanted to make this evening nice for you. It's not very often we get this opportunity-for a nice meal."

"Austin, I didn't come on this trip to find a decent meal."

"I didn't want you to have to sit through another night of belching and filthy language."

"Why not? You have done it."

"I have never belched in the presence of a lady and certainly never use profanity."

Hayley could not suppress her laugh. Its loudness surprised everyone in the small room. She covered her mouth with her napkin and continued to laugh as she watched his baffled face.

"Austin..."

"What are you laughing about?" The tone in his voice proved he was amused by it.

"You didn't understand what I meant." She reached for his hand. "When I said you've done it, I meant that you have sat through nights of belching and bad language." She stifled a giggle as she caught Austin's look of embarrassment.