Saturday
I couldn�t believe that today was my last day at the restaurant. No
longer would I say the words �Bonjour, je m'appelle Chris - Hi, I�m
Chris and I�ll be your server.� I was excited, yet a bit scared. For
the past five years, the bistro had been my home.
Tomorrow my life is going to change big time. I am moving to be with
George in Montreal. I have never been to the Canada OR lived with a
man. This long distance relationship has been going on since George
was transferred last Summer. I guess it�s time to be together.
What was scaring me most, about the move, was that I would be
unemployed, for the first time, since I was a teenager and started
baby-sitting. The Lord must have heard my prayers. Tonight was a slow
night and my last customer was a semi-regular who has dinner at the
bistro whenever he is in town on business. He only comes in about once
every six weeks but is so memorable due to his generous tipping and
his, hard to describe, exotic looks. He also wears the most
interesting glasses. It seems like he is wearing a different pair
every time he comes in.
My coworkers waited until I brought him his drink and placed his order
before they approached me with a large cake. The management, servers,
and kitchen staff gave me a round of applause as they presented me with
it and a small gift bag containing a PDA.
The first to speak was Henri the owner who, in his Parisian accent,
said �Chris, we are all going to miss you and wish you the best of
luck. I took the liberty of entering all of our names, addresses,
phone numbers, and e-mails into the PDA. You have no excuse for not
staying in touch� Everyone laughed. Henri then said �Montreal is a
wonderful place. I have many cousins there but if things don�t work
out, you know that my door is always open.� He then hugged me.
Everyone clapped.
Lee, the pastry chef and my roommate , spoke next and said �I know how
much you love my Napoleon cake and wanted it to be the last food we
shared. I heard that it is not available in Montreal . Just kidding!
They have it but but they call it Mille Feuilles - but it�s not as good
as mine. I had Henri put the recipe in the PDA. Make it and think of
us and the fun times. I�m gonna miss you� We hugged and cried.
I thanked everyone and excused myself to tend to my customer who
watched the celebration from afar.
�Are you OK?� he asked �What was all that about? Something good, I
hope.�
I told him that it was my last night and that I was moving. His smile
faded as he said �Wonderful for you but bad for me. You are one of the
reasons, I eat here. You and your colleagues always provide the best
service - it�s real and sincere. Where are you moving to?�
�Montreal! I said �to be with George.�
�Really?!� he said with a big smile �I live from Montreal. Will you be
working in a restaurant there? I�ll become a regular.�
�Actually, I don�t have a job yet� I said �I love what I do but was
hoping for something with more traditional hours that will allow me to
spend my nights with George. After all, that�s the reason for moving
there. I love him so much.�
�I�m a hopeless romantic too. I have been in a relationship with a
wonderful man for the last seven years. Together, we are raising his
son who is now in grade 4. I miss them both so much and can not wait
to fly back home to them.� He closed his eyes, smiled and paused for a
second before asking me: �What do you think of eyeglasses?�
�Eyeglasses? George wears glasses. Come to think of it, all the guys
I have been with have worn glasses. I guess I like them. I definitely
like YOUR glasses. Why do you ask?�
�My name Jean-Jacques Patel. I�m an optometrist. I have a practice
and own an optical shop in the Gay Village. I am looking for an
assistant. I think you�d be great. I�d like to offer you a job.�
�The Gay Village? That�s not far from where I�ll be living. I never
thought of selling glasses for a living, but you know, I might be good
at it. I have a degree in fashion and a I minored in French in
college. I have helped people make the right glasses choices. George
is always getting complimented on the two pairs of glasses I picked out
for him. Just this afternoon I picked out glasses for a good friend
whose glasses I have been choosing for years. Here, check out this
note.�
I pulled a note out of my apron pocket and handed it to him. The
handwritten note read:
�Chris,
Your leaving has marked the end of an era.
You have been helping me pick my glasses
since my vision was just shitty. Now it�s really,
really, really, shitty.
You better come back to visit and to help me
pick glasses. If you don�t I�ll have to get laser
surgery.
Love Ya!
Alex�
Jean-Jacques finished the last sip of his drink as he finished reading
the card and said:
�Really, really, really, shitty vision, eh? If you can pick out Alex�s
glasses, you�ll be able to work for me. My clientele is predominantly
gay and vain. The really, really, really shitty vision guys tend to
buy contacts. I wish they would buy glasses too. I�d make more money.
I�m trying to change that by offering more stylish glasses. That�s
why I come here to New York City. I am working with a few designers
and always searching for new ones. Having someone who knows the city
will be very helpful. Yesterday I got lost trying to find a
neighborhood in Brooklyn called Dumbo. Strange name, eh?
I laughed and told him �Dumbo is an acronym for
Down-Under-Manhattan-Bridge-Overpass�
�That makes perfect sense,� he said �that is exactly where it was. I
feel like such a dumbo for not knowing.� We both laughed. �Chris,
please come work for me. In addition to a good salary, I give all my
employees 50% discount on glasses. Do you wear glasses or contacts
yourself?�
�No. I�ve got 20/20 vision.�
�The discount still applies to glasses you buy for George or Alex with
the shitty, shitty, shitty vision.�
�No, that�s really, really, really shitty vision� we both laugh and I
said �Speaking of glasses, your glass is empty. Do you want another?
It�s on me.�
�Yes, thanks!�
�I�ll be right back with it and your dinner� I said as I left.
I held up the empty glass and motioned to Casey, who was tending bar,
to pour another.
Casey asked �What�s happening between you and the guy in the funky
glasses? There seems to be more chit chat going on than usual.�
�He has offered me a job at his optical shop in Montreal. The job
includes daytime hours, trips here to find designers, and a 50%
discount. I think I�m going to take it.�
�Congratulations!� Casey said with a big smile �Can you get me a
discount on my contacts?�
�Since when do you wear contacts?�
�Since high school but I�ve had glasses since the end of fourth grade.
The doctor said that I probably needed them sooner because the
prescription was pretty strong for a first one.�
With a chuckle, Casey then said: �Without my contacts or glasses I have
to bring things about 4 inches from my eyes to see them clearly. The
only person that has seen me in glasses since high school is my
roommate Kim, whose eyes are worse than mine - but you didn�t hear that
from me, OK?�
�Kim�s secret is safe with me. We�ll continue this conversation later�
I said as I picked up the drink and took it to my customer. As I
placed the drink on the table, Henri brought the entree to the table.�
�Dr. Patel, this is Henri the owner of the bistro. He�s like a father
to all of us� They shake hands.
�Dr. Patel is far too formal, call me Jean-Jacques or JJ.�
�Henri, this is my new boss JJ. Yes, I would like to accept your job
offer.�
The three of us smiled and Henri said: �Dr. Patel, I mean
Jean-Jacques, you will not be disappointed. Chris is a wonderful
worker. I will now leave you to your meal. Very nice to meet you.�
�Welcome aboard Chris. I�m really looking forward to working with you.
Thanks!�
�No, thank you JJ. I�ll leave you to you meal. Please motion to me or
the bartender if you need anything.�
I joined Casey behind the bar and we shared a piece of the Napoleon
cake. Casey asked me �Remember that parka that you helped me buy last
winter ?
�How could I forget it? It was really nice. Did you ever get to wear
it?
�Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, it never got cold enough here.
It�s still in the garment bag from the showroom. Do you want it? I
hear that the Montreal winters are cold and long. I want you to have
it to remember me by.�
I hug Casey and say �Thank you. But I won�t be soon forgetting you. I
need to stay in touch with you to get the discounted contact lenses to
you. I took the job!�
Casey hugged back tighter, congratulated me, and said �Great. When
we�re done here, take the subway with me to my place. I�ve got my car
there. We�ll get the parka and I�ll drive you home.�
�Sounds like a plan! Let me get a piece of cake for my new boss. His
name is Jean-Jacques but he prefers JJ.� I cut a big piece of cake and
brought it to JJ �We call this Napoleon cake and it�s my favorite. I
have been told that in Canada it�s called Mille Feuilles�
�Thank you. It is also MY favorite dessert.� JJ took a big bite and
said �Chris, you just have spoiled me. This is fabulous. There is a
bakery on Sainte Catherine that makes a good Mille Feuilles but not as
good as this one. My compliments to the Patissièr�
�Merci!� I said �The Patissièr is my roommate. I will pass the
compliment on to Lee tonight. Would you like a cafe au lait or a
cordial?�
�No coffee for me - I think I have an early flight from JFK. But, I
will have a Napoleon Brandy to accompany the Napoleon cake. Speaking
of my flight, let me check something.� He pulled his airline ticket
out his attaché and looked at it. �My flight�s not as early as I
thought - it�s at 1 PM - but I�ll still stick with the brandy.�
�Can I see your ticket? My God, we are on the same flight! Henri is
driving me to the airport. I�m sure he wouldn�t mind taking you too.
Let me check with him�
�That sounds like a delightful way to get to know you and Henri. Ask
him if he minds and I will take the check, when you get a chance.�
�Great! I�ll be right back with it.� I said as I walked to the bar
where Henri was. As I finish tabulating the check, I ask if he would
mind if JJ tags along since we are on the same flight.
Henri replied �That would be fine. Why don�t the three of us get
together for coffee at 10? I�ll take Jean-Jacques his check and work
out the details� Henri picked up the leather check holder and walked
to JJ�s table �Chris tells me that you are both on the same flight. I
can pick Chris up first and then pick you up at your hotel. I know a
charming diner near the airport. Will 10 AM work for you?�
�I�ll be ready at 10. I am staying at the Hilton in mid town.�
�Chris and I will see you then� Henri said as he started to walk away
�Henri wait! You forgot to leave the check!�
�No, Jean-Jacques, I didn�t forget.� Henri said, with a tear in his
eye �Dinner is on me. Please take good care of Chris�
JJ�s eyes were also tearing up �I will. I promise. (cleared his
throat) I will.� JJ said as he took off his glasses and wiped his
eyes with his napkin �Good night Chris. Good night Henri. Thanks!
See you in the morning�
�Good night!� Henri and I said in unison.
Henri then told Casey and me �I�ll finish cleaning up here. Why don�t
you two take off? See you in the morning Chris�
Casey and I left and walked to the subway. Though it was only a 7
minute ride to Casey�s apartment, I really wished that I had used the
toilet before leaving the bistro. As we exited the subway stairs I
said: �God, I have to pee. How far is your apartment?�
Casey pointed at the door about 15 feet away and said: �Right here.
Having the subway so close, I hardly ever use may car anymore. Can you
hold it for few more seconds?� Casey unlocked the two locks and said
�The bathroom is right there.�
�Thanks!� I said as I ran in and relieved myself. As I washed my hands
I noticed a contact lens case, a bottle of lens solution, and a pair of
glasses on the sink counter. The glasses had a stylish tortoise shell
frame. Curiously, I picked them up and examined them more closely.
The lenses were quite thick - about one centimeter in one eye and a
little thicker in the other. I tried them on and thought �Damn! Casey
must be blind!� I took them off and put them back. I opened the door
and was about to walk out when I had a thought.
�Casey, you weren�t kidding about having bad eyes. These are strong!�
I said as I walked out of the bathroom wearing the glasses
Casey laughed and said �Yeah, my glasses are strong but those are not
mine. They�re Kim�s but they look better on you. Mine are in my
backpack. I�ll grab them. I always have them and an extra pair of
contacts with me in case of an emergency. Luckily I have never had
one. With glasses like those, I�m surprised that Kim doesn�t do the
same. Let me pop out my lenses and show you my glasses. I�ll be right
back�
While Casey disappeared to the bathroom, I walked to the window and
looked at the night skyline through Kim�s glasses. I have never taken
acid but I imagined that the visual affect must be similar.
Casey walked out of the bathroom in a pair of rimless glasses and
asked: �Don�t these look stupid?��
I took Kim�s glasses off my face, placed them on the coffee table, and
said �not stupid - just not the best choice for you. They�re too
invisible. With your skin tone and red hair, you need a plastic frame
to match. More along the lines of Kim�s glasses. Here give me your
glasses and put these on. Wow! Much better but they would be perfect
if they had a bit more orange color. Check yourself out in the
mirror.�
�Mirror? I can�t see shit through these. They�re -14Rx. I wear -6.75
�Do you have a camera on your computer? I asked
�Yeah! Good idea!�
After taking a few photos with the web cam, Casey took off Kim�s
glasses and placed them the computer table and asked �Do you know where
my glasses are?�
�There right here!� I said as I picked up Casey�s glasses and examined
the lenses. They had a non-glare coating on them. The edges were
about 7 mm thick . I put them on and asked �How do I look?�
�I told you that I can�t see more than 4 inches without them. Come
closer.�
I place my face about 4 inches away from Casey�s �Can you see me now?�
Casey pulled me closer and kissed me passionately. I didn�t pull back.
�Oh my God! I am so sorry Chris! You came into focus and looked so
sexy in my glasses. I don�t know what came over me. I�m sorry!�
�Don�t worry about it.� I said as I took the glasses off my face and
placed them on Casey. �Kim�s glasses may be more powerful , but yours,
are definitely more magical. Let�s look at these pictures.�
We played around with the color on the photos and Casey said �Wow!
You�re going to be great at your new job. I can�t believe that I
actually like the way I look in glasses. Thanks!�
�Your welcome.� I said as I looked up at the clock �I can�t believe
that it�s past midnight. Sorry, but, I�ve got to get home. I still
have a few things to pack.�
�Let me just fetch the parka and we�ll head out. I got it! You
ready?�
Part Two
