"Mr. Marlow?
I thought it was you. Wow. So excited to meet you--well, not really meet you, I mean you're obviously having dinner here with your friends and I'm just some random person who's interrupted you, but just to see you and get a chance to introduce myself--well, I guess I haven't even done that. Sorry. I'm a little nervous, we all forget things when we're nervous, you know? Well, maybe not you, you're Sebastian Marlow, and I'm just this random guy seeing you in a restaurant. But my name's Francis--Frank--and well there we have it, I've introduced myself, and, forgive me, because I don't want to bother you any more than I already have--all of you--but could you maybe indulge me and let me shake your hand? Always wanted to meet you, and--yeah? Okay great, thanks so much.
Such a pleasure to--oh! Goodness, you okay? Okay good, just a candle, thought you spilled your drink for a second--speaking of which, could I buy you a drink? Well, another, anyway? I see you have a nice-looking bottle of wine. Any of you? It would be my pleasure, really. No? Okay, well anyway looks like the candle went out, no big deal, they can bring another, or just relight it. Shoot, I may have some matches, I could do it for you. No? Yeah, you're right, just a candle. Small little light, can hardly tell it was ever there. Come to think of it, though, darnedest thing, being so dark in here and all, it was by that little light that I spotted you, isn't that something? Little candle like that.
Anyway, it's so nice to meet you. I almost didn't come over, you know, when I saw you, because I didn't want to bother you--wow, look what I'm saying, of course I'm bothering you--but then I thought, I always wanted to meet him, and if I ever got the chance I couldn't let it pass, you know, because then I'd regret it, and besides, I'm someone who tends to see things through, kind of a problem, I really think.
Oh, here's your waiter, let me just step aside here while he sets that down...No, I don't need a chair, thank you, I won't be staying. Just saying hello.... That’s a nice-looking meal. Well, you have your dinner, I shouldn't keep you any longer, I just wanted to say hello was all, you being Sebastian Marlow, and me, just a random guy, eating at the same place, do you believe that? I looked up and there you were, in the glow of that candlelight, isn't that something?
What's the matter? He brought her the wrong dish? Ah, that's too bad. Want me to signal him? I think I see him back there. They don't write down the orders here, one of those fancy places where they keep it all in their head. Pretty impressive, until they forget something. Write it down, I say. No need to show off. I'd be more impressed by the right order, truth be told. Of course, he's probably just nervous, you know, like me, I'm nervous--is it obvious? He's nervous because he's just a waiter and you're Sebastian Marlow, right here at his table, and so he’s nervous and people tend to make mistakes when they're nervous. You know what I mean?
Do you know what I mean--goodness, listen to me, you're Sebastian Marlow, and I'm talking to you about mistakes. Guess it's just me being nervous. Anxiety, you understand? You being here, and all, you being Sebastian Marlow. Hey, you sure I can't grab your waiter? He really needs to rectify this, poor lady has the wrong dish, and the rest of you waiting politely while your food get cold. I'd be happy to get him, you know? Poor guy, was probably just nervous, made a mistake. You being Sebastian Marlow.
And isn't it something that I saw you, just by that faint light, what a good stroke of luck, to look up and have the light catch you just right. Well, lucky for me, you're probably not feeling so lucky, and who can blame you? Me bothering you like this and all. Hell, you might even be thinking you want to call the police, if I don't leave soon, but I'll leave soon, I promise. And now that I think of it, as I look at you, it doesn't seem you want to call the police, and I appreciate that. I'm just a random guy, just a fan, just a bit nervous, and I won't be staying long.
Goodness, why's it taking so long for him to come back and check on you? I know he didn't do it on purpose, of course he didn't, but he should just come by and check, make sure everything's okay, you know, even if he's nervous. You're Sebastian Marlow, and these are your friends and it's really starting to upset me, actually, that he hasn't come back yet to check, you know? Sometimes people make mistakes, even by accident, but then you come back and check, even if you're nervous or embarrassed or even might get in trouble, you do the right thing and come check on things. It's the kind of the thing that makes me crazy, actually--oh, no, I mean, I'm not crazy, I'm just a random guy--but that sort of thing can drive me crazy, that's all I mean. Shall I get him? Get him for you, I mean. Go get him? I'd be happy to. I'm already standing, and I see him back there, just going about his business like nothing ever happened, not even coming back to see if everything's okay.
No? He'll be by soon? I hope so. I mean, yeah, I'd expect so too, but then again, I thought he'd come back around by now, and he hasn't, and I'm sorry, it's just really starting to upset me. Not that I'm a restaurant cop or something, huh, wouldn't that be a funny thing. I'm just a random guy who happened to see something happen but still, still he should still come back and check, don't you all agree? It's the right thing to do. And I'm someone who has trouble letting something go like that, when someone doesn't do what's right, even if it seems something little to them, insignificant.
And there I go again--insignificant--you're Sebastian Marlow and you're his friends, and you're not insignificant at all. What's that? No more important than anyone else? Well, that's great of you to say, it really is, makes me like you even more, you know? Not that you should care if I like you, that's not what I'm saying at all. But I'm just saying that kind of humility is great to hear, it really is, we need more of that in this world, do you all agree? I really think so. And you're right, of course, you're right. Everyone is significant. Everyone important. Everyone is someone. I'm really glad you said that.
But still, he should have come around by now, because you're someone--you all are--and he should check to make sure things are okay. I'll get him, if you want, I really will. Give the word, and I'll get him, nothing stops me when I put my mind to something, especially when someone didn't do what's right. It’s kind of a problem of mine, I really think. No? Oh, I know, it's just the wrong order, I understand, not a really big deal. That's true, that's true. I'm a bit embarrassed now, actually, now that you put it that way. I'm just a random guy, being so nervous here, even though we're all important, like you said--I'm so glad you said that--but here I am a random guy, interrupting your dinner and making such a big deal out of something like this. You're probably thinking--I mean, I don't know, I don't really know you--but you're probably thinking, imagine what he'd do if something really were a big deal, you know? And I understand that, if you were thinking that, but you really don't have to worry, I'm just a random guy, a random, important guy, I guess, like each of you is important, and I just want to see the right thing done.
Okay, I'll let it be, alright. As long as you say so. What's that? Oh, thank you, thanks for saying so. You're right, I am just trying to look out for you, that's all. That, and that way I get so upset about stuff like this. A flaw of mine, I suppose, something I perhaps best work on. And here I am having troubled you with one of my flaws, when it's my flaw, and here you are being inconvenienced by it. I am so sorry for that. I'll go now, then, alright? Listen to me. Like you'd rather I'd stay. I don't blame you, truly. I wouldn't want me to stay either, so I'll leave you be now. I do feel badly, though, having bothered you like this, and me not even helping you rectify things with the order. Is there nothing I can do? Here, at least let me refill your wine.
No, no, no, please, allow me, I insist. I'll pour your wine then be on my way, and hopefully he’ll be back around soon--boy, that's really upsetting me now--okay, okay, I know, I know. But here, just allow me, and there we go, and--oh damn it all! Forgive me, please, I am so sorry. Let me grab these napkins...damn it all, I am so sorry, spilling your wine like that. I'm just nervous, I guess, please forgive me...I'll buy you another--may I? Please, I implore you, it's the least I could do. It was my mistake, please let me make things right.
Well, alright then, if you insist. I'll leave you be, now. I'm so very sorry. Look at that, red wine spilled on your table. Did it get on you? No? Just your hands? I know, I know, it'll come right off, but still, look at that, wine all over your table, and on your hands, you, Sebastian Marlow. I'm really sorry. I'll leave you be, now, really, I'm going. You've been most forgiving, and most kind, but I bet you're hoping you'll never see me again, and I can't blame you, I know I've bothered you here tonight, and I do hope you'll forgive me. I'm sure you've nothing to worry about. What are the odds we'd run into each other again? I just looked up and there you were. Me, a random guy, and there you were.
Sebastian Marlow."
Bio:
Daryl Rothman’s YA/Fantasy novel, The Awakening of David Rose, was released by Evolved Publishing, September 9th, 2019, and was a winner in the Best Young Adult Fiction category for Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards. Daryl has written for a variety of esteemed publications, including Men With Pens, KM Weiland, CS Lakin, Carol Tice, Joanna Penn, Problogger and more, and recognitions include Flash Fiction winner for Cactus Moon Press, Flash Fiction second place winner for Amid the Imaginary, and Honorable Mention for Glimmer Train’s New Writer’s Short Story Award Contest. Book II in the David Rose Series debuted Sept. 26, 2022, and Gospel, a literary-suspense novel, released in November, 2024, and was a finalist for Feathered Quill’s Book Awards for Adult Fiction.