Chit-chat

At a quarter to 5, people begin trickling through the door. With empty stomachs, groups of friends and family chatter among one another, anxiously waiting to devour bowls of chips and salsa. They soon get seated; a few older couples along with two sets of families are in the mix of customers. Sipping on iced teas and sodas, customers ask each other of their days.

The low hum of Mexican music ripples through the small speakers, as the building continues to fill with hungry patrons. A group of particularly chatty friends sit at booth; a man with a fedora, one carrying an electronic cigarette in his shirt pocket, and a blonde woman with hair tightly pulled back into a bun. After a round of drinks, their volume grows, laughing and chatting away. Across the room, sits a table of college girls, dressed in matching sorority tanks. With forks in one hand and their phones in the other, the girls catch up on their latest social media gossip between bites. Next to them, a young couple is ordering meals, green enchiladas and tacos. They are dressed well, he in a button down shirt, and her in a floral dress. Their body language suggests nervousness. Perhaps on a date? 

It’s slow for a Thursday, but the room is still buzzing with noise and laughter. Towards the back of the room, a man is accompanied by what looks to be his family--a woman of equal age, and two children--each holding gift bags. They seem cheerful as they sit and wait to be served on.

Meanwhile, the chatty friends moved from a booth, to a table by the window as more acquaintances join them. E-cig walks in and out of the nearby door, taking a puff of vapor as he goes. He meets people outside, and notions them to his nearby table. They've yet to order food, but seem to enjoy each other’s company while munching on chips. A new woman joins them, wearing scrubs with a medical name tag clipped on the left pocket, a nurse most likely? The nurse and E-cig, walk out once more, and sit on a bench opposite of their table. They share a cigarette, engaging in more conversation.

Almost forgotten, the family in the back of the room with gift bags has finished their meal. I am reminded of their presence by the jingle of Happy Birthday sung by jovial employees who serve them crispy cinnamon sugar sopapillas.  

The sun is almost set, painting the clouds a pinkish orange tint across the sky. The evening becomes late and the dinner rush has slowed down. To my surprise, button-down and floral are still on their date, this time they seem more intimate. Maybe the atmosphere of the now-calm restaurant has allowed them to relax. I am able to hear the music once more, without a realization it had been inaudible for a while.

I can see E-cig and the nurse have returned to their table, and are slowly filling their stomachs with dinner, seemingly too distracted by the multiple jokes fedora hat keeps making. They laugh, take a bite and laugh some more. I have to question how many rounds of drinks has gone around. Can people always be this rowdy?

The restaurant begins to close. Employee’s clean tables, flip chairs, and sweep floors. Floral and button down have yet to leave. They look to be too immersed in their conversation to even notice the rows of empty tables. Likewise, the rowdy bunch continues to converse. E-cig is the first to leave the table, again breathing in vapor as he walks out. One after the other fedora, the nurse, and their peers stand up, slowly making their way to the door. Floral and button-down follow their notion.  With leftovers in hand, the last of the guests exit the restaurant still chatting away.