The Flying Penny
Mr. Wall, the restaurant manager saw the flying penny and had to take action. An elderly lady had left a penny as a tip. She came from the Depression Generation, who lived during the 1930s. She was from a generation that valued a penny.
In 1963, I was working in a restaurant as a Busboy/Dishwasher. "The Flying Penny," story was told to me by one of the servers who was there, the day it happened, long before I arrived.
My imagination allowed me to create a short story of fiction.
: : :
Downtown had the largest department store around. Shoppers would start their day at, The Cozy Café. It sat right next to the toy department in the basement.
The small tables were square with two chairs, lined up against each wall. Down the middle were two tables sitting side by side with four chairs. The gingham yellow designs on the walls made it feel like spring during the coldest of winter days.
It was always busy with a line of people waiting to get in. Among the restaurant patrons, was an elderly couple who arrived every Saturday morning.
They were always first in line and the first to be seated. Even during the coldest mornings.
During winter, Martha wore a forest green wool coat with a matching green hat. It sat properly on her well-groomed hair and had a pheasant feather that tilted backward.
Herbert wore a harvest gold wool coat that fit well. He would hang it on the coat rack near the front entrance. He carefully placed his coat on the bottom hook and his hat on the top hook, pausing to make sure that it would not fall. He was never in a hurry.
Mr. Wall, always had the same greeting, “Top of the morning folks, thanks for letting us serve you.”
The couple smiled and nodded their heads in agreement. All three walked to the same table. It was their table and on rare occasions, if they were late, the table remained empty.
After handing them their menus, Mr. Wall said, “Please excuse me while I go and fetch some tea.” Martha smiled and said, “Thank you.”
Herbert followed with his Thank you.
As they looked at the menu, decorum filled the air and brought calm to all who sat at the tables next to them.
During breakfast, they would share a few words here and a few words there.
Their serenity and kind smiles flowed to the other tables near them. Even children close by behaved.
Like most couples who have been together forever, talking was a simple nod of the head. They were in a silent conversation.
: : :
They stopped coming in briefly and everyone thought they had gone to visit family in Florida, as they did every winter.
Everybody was surprised the next time Martha came in without Herbert by her side. She was wearing a black wool coat, with a matching black hat adorned with a black feather.
Seeing her in black with her face a little sadder, everyone understood. Not a word was asked about Herbert.
Every Saturday after that, she continued to be first in line and the first to be seated. She was never late.
She would always sit alone at their table and intermittently smiled at the empty chair across from her. Everyone felt love in their heart, knowing that she was having another silent conversation.
One Saturday morning, Mr. Wall seated Martha at her table, and Nameless, a new server was assigned to serve Martha. She was new and making progress.
This was the first meeting between Martha and Nameless.
: : :
Nameless was not feeling good. Her Friday night party had been a wet one and she was still feeling a little buzzy.
Many of her older co-workers were certain that Nameless was typical of her generation, “The Young and Dumb.” Their feelings were confirmed when Nameless demonstrated atrocious behavior.
Martha had finished breakfast. She stood up and gave a smile to the well-behaved children. She picked up her black purse and placed it near the inside of her left elbow.
Her right hand was always free to hold Herbert's arm in times past.
As she walked to the cash register, Nameless rushed over to Martha’s table to pick up the tip.
Nameless saw a single shiny penny and grabbed it. She threw it at Martha and shouted, “Keep your penny you old bitty!”
A thunder of silence filled the room. Everyone was stunned and sat there staring at Nameless. Martha did not hear the insult nor feel the penny hit her coat.
Mr. Wall saw it all.
He took a deep breath and walked towards Martha and he reached for her check.
She followed him to the register and put her purse on the counter.
Mr. Wall said, “That’s OK Martha, there will be no charge today.”
Looking surprised, she asked, “No charge?”
“That is correct. My Mom’s Birthday is coming soon and I want to help her celebrate.”
Looking puzzled she said, “Thank you, Mr. Wall, your Mom is blessed to have such a kind son.”
She turned and slowly walked to the escalator.
What happened to Nameless?
It is easy to guess.
You know the rest of the story.
Nameless became toast and Mr. Wall escorted her out the door.
: : :
As I mentioned at the beginning of this story, it is based on a memory from a story, told to me, by one of the older servers when I worked as a Dishwasher/busboy in 1963.
I remember the flying penny part and created the rest of the story of fiction from that single memory.
As I am forming a story, it will go in many directions, from the first draft to the last. I may need hours, days, and months of editing to make it readable and compelling.
: : :
Catch YA’ Later
©️ LuMar Lee 2024
: : :
More Links Below