The Table
It was like a cold slap in the face
The door giving way
Into a darkened room
A welcome wall of cold air
Embracing
Rushing over us
The aircon was on full bore no doubt
The eyes taking time to adjust
Contrasting the scorching daylight
The dim reality of mum’s favourite Chinese restaurant
Emerging out of the gloom
No lights on
Saving money
Not a busy day
Simple economics
Scattered tables
Red table clothes
Dusty tied lace curtains
Very tired
A bar at the back
The only occupants
Silhouetted against the bar
A table of about eight men
Beers all round
The bubble of conversation
laughter
welling
with the closing of the door
and of course
the tinkerling bell
announcing our arrival
heads turned
conversations slowed
then eased back into full bore
as we were shown to a table
by the owners’ daughter
who obviously enjoyed the restaurants food?
To be kind!
We ordered
The waiter disappearing
Into a worm hole of brightness
That was the open back door
The wine and entrees arrived
Out of this hale low of radiance
A deliverance
My mother always ordered
Just for her, no sharing
A plate of honey prawns
It was her favourite
Having no teeth of her own
It was one of the only thing she could eat!
Guarding them jealously
Hated vegetables!
Only liking sweet wine
Usually not on, in a Chinese restaurant
Mum added saccharine to the Riesling
I flinched
With the mains arriving
The main man from the table came over
With a plate crab
Gliding it onto our table
He caught it himself
So enjoy
Thanks
followed him back to his table
As the beer flowed
Bursting through the worm hole of divineness
Can the owner
An elderly Chinese Australian
Embraced by the main man
Planting him with a beer
sitting him down at their table
they obviously knew each other well
I remarked to Mum
That is what I liked about Oz
Another plate levitated onto our table
Prawns this time
Mum was delighted
She tucked in
me
Broadcasting a profuse
Thanks
into the dimness
cheers and clinking bottles resounding
walking around his table
slapping the guys on the back
toasting a good year
the main man
swaggering over
with a ceremonial wave
landing a big plate of lobster on out table
it was too much for them
he was a plasterer
this being his year-end function for the guys
the main man
had caught everything himself
bringing it into the restaurant for John
to cook it up for them specially
it was a ritual for them
one arm on my chair
with a beer in the other hand
he wanted to chat!
he was a locally grown boy
living in Nelson Bay
with his own boat
I had spent my honeymoon there!
He had his own business for years
Work always came to him
He never advertised
Seemed to be doing well!
His father was also born in the region
But left along time ago leaving seven sons behind
Of which he was the youngest
He finally tracked his father down a few years ago
He had married four times and had fourteen children in all
They have only just spoken for the first time in 35 years
Getting on well with the whole clan
The main man
Didn’t hold any grudges
Shrugging the shoulders
Slugging the beer
My mother
Interrupting the monologue
She can’t handle someone else
Taking centre stage
She had lived in Darwin
During Tracy
Being a worthy advocate
The main man
Chimed back immediately
Not missing a beat
He would love to go to the Territory
A mate of his has offered a trip to the cape country
Fish some Barra, do some shooting
Mum
Volleying back
My head just following the b out
Keith, our uncle
Was a great fisherman
Who loved the Cape Country
Rising to the volley
He would love to go
Out to the edge of nowhere
Even if you shot a black!
Nobody would care
His eyes
Darting to me
To gauge my reaction
Giving me the once over
Obviously, a dandy
a mummy’s boy
This was the bit I didn’t like about Oz
Sensing the dig in the conversation
The main man
Bid adieu
Hoping we had enjoyed the food
In a platitude of thanks
I offered to buy them all a drink
Gees mate
No problems we are well underway
Eying the owner
Can you buy the main man a beer from us
It was duly delivered
With raised, chinking bottles
As we disappeared
Into the worm hole of radiant heat
Assisting mum to totter to the car
Once again
I had pandered to my mother
Her favourite place
Bloody awful food
bloody expensive
In a suburban hole
But
Interesting, basically generous people
A window into Australia