An Early Lunch

'Shoot me down with some of dat der punkin pie.'

'Alrighty! Here ya go, and here's one more. It'll be our little secret.'

'I don't want nunna dat der pieces. Juh shoot me down with some of dat der punkin pie. Juh the small un. Don't need no mo den dat.'

'OK sir, I hope you enjoy it.'

'mmm hmm'

I watched him in between servings. He ate near the piano and would drum beats on the table between bites. He was a small man, much smaller than his sweatpants and ski jacket.

* * *

'So what's it going to be today?'

'Oh well I don't know. It all looks so delicious. I'm not supposed to eat sweets, but, well, I guess I'll take one of those chocolate cupcakes.'

'Good choice! I had one earlier and it was delicious.'

'OK. Oh jeez, well, hmmm. I better get a slice of that pecan pie too.'

'Alright, here ya go. Enjoy.'

'... I...'

She turned to walk away, and then turned back, and then turned away again. She wore black jeans an a black sweatshirt with a dainty gold chain around her neck. She looked like a mom.

* * *

'White bread or wheat bread sir?'

'I would like the whole grain wheat with the oats on the crust. If you're out of the whole grain wheat with the oats on the crust, I'd like the Russian rye.'

'It looks like we have some whole grain. How many slices can I get for you?'

'Well gimmie the ends. I'll take that one, and that one, and you might as well throw that one on my plate too. Put it over the chicken please.'

'No problem sir. Have a nice day.'

He set his tray down and took the two pieces of bread that were not on top of his chicken outside with him. He looked over his shoulder and I pretended not to notice. He crumbled the whole grain wheat with oats on the crust into tiny balls and threw them to the pigeons. He came back three more times for whole grain wheat with oats on the crust.

* * *

'Oh the apple pie is always just so good. Do you think I can have two slices?'

'I don't see why not. Here ya go, I hope you enjoy them.'

'Oh I will.'

She was missing her top row of teeth, but she smiled anyways. She was skinny, not emaciated, just skinny and she wore a turqoise fila jumpsuit. On her tray she opted to get rice, cottage cheese and two slices of apple pie. She came back for a third.

* * *

'Here sweetie, let me carry that for you. Hey! Make sure you say please.'

'Um hi can I have that cupcake right there?'

'Absolutely. This one right here?'

'Um no. Not that one, the one with the most sprinkles. That one.'

'Oh ok, I see the one. Here ya go. Would you like anything else?'

'Hmm no it's ok. Bye.'

'Sweetie, wait for mommy.'

'Hi, you can just give me whatever's easiest for you and I guess throw a couple pieces of bread on this tray.'

'Well everything's easy, so how bout a slice of cherry pie?'

'Cherry will be just fine. Could I get a couple cookies for my other daughter?'

'Definitely. Here ya go. Can I help you with your trays?'

'No. Honey, come help mommy with the food. No, leave your doll on the table and come carry this tray.'

She had blond hair and her two daughters had blond hair and the little doll had blond hair too. The teenage daughter didn't wait in line. She sat in her chair pretending to be occupied. I thought she was a volunteer.

* * *

He didn't say anything, he  held his tray high on his chest and nodded towards the scones and appricot danish. I found it to be an odd choice for him. He was dark skinned, very brown, with hair above his upper lip and a green hooded sweatshirt made of fleece hung low over his eyes. He was wearing headphones, they were silver and I notice the chord dragging behind him as he walked.

'This one?'

He nodded.

'The pumpkin pie?'

He shook his head in frustration. I felt bad I made him frustrated. I knew what he wanted the first time he nodded his head. I don't know why I questioned him.

'Here you go sir. Enjoy.'

He placed his tray on the table furthest from me. I watched him for a moment and then looked away to help another man. When I looked back he had abandoned his headphones, backpack and food. Ten more people came through and then he greeted me with a smile. He brushed the hood off his head.

'Hi! Can I have one slice of that stuff, what is it...the coffee cake. Yup one slice of that. It's OK if it's a big one!'

'Yeah no problem. Anything else?'

'Nope. Not right now. I might be back later though.'

He walked with a bounce in his step and chuckled as he sat down with his food once more. He snickered to the incoherent elderly man sitting next to him, making sure I wasn't looking,  about how he had pulled a fast one on me. When the dining hall was emptied his headphones were left on his chair.