J. Beaman - The Magazine

Conversations from work tonight (customers):

Table 5–I walk up with the dinner silverware.
girl: I just want to make sure it’s cool with you.
guy: yeah.
girl: I mean, because it wasn’t cool with my last boyfriend and I just need to know.
I walk away.

Table 3a–I’m bussing their appetizers. A man and a woman in their late fifties or early sixties.
man: what’s that say on your arm?
me: This [pointing to my left arm] is from Lord Jim…
man: Ahh. And the other arm?
me: That’s my mom’s name.
An hour later refilling decaf
man: What’s that say? What’s your mother’s name?
me: Glenda Grace.
man (genlty): Hmm…Did she pass away?
me: Yeah, when I was little.
woman: What a beautiful name.
I smile at them.
man: What a beautiful gesture.
I smile at them.
woman (Raising her cup of coffee): Here’s to Glenda Grace.
I smile at them, try not to cry, and walk away.

Here’s to Glenda Grace.