A family walks into the restaurant in which I work, the mother and father herding three excited little girls ahead of them. The father leads the littlest blonde girl by the hand while two older ones chatter on to their family. As I approach the table to take their order, I can see how the girls' faces light up every time their father starts to talk and they ply him with questions. Their mother seems a little more reserved, preferring to say nothing and listen to the animated conversation. The girls stop talking as I arrive at the table, allowing their mother to place their orders. As I walk away I hear the oldest girl begin the questioning again, her high voice demanding her father finish his story. He complies, weaving a story full of gestures, expressions and voice changes. While continuing to serve my other tables, I keep an eye on the family. The dad stays completely involved with his daughters. He smiles, laughs, and keeps his girls completely entertained without the look so many parents of young children get. Throughout the wait, he holds his wife's hand, leaning in to whisper in her ear or kiss her on the cheek. She smiles at him but her eyes don't leave the phone clipped to her husband's belt until he moves it to the other side.
After I serve the meal, he begins to question his daughters about their school days and their activities the last few days. As they begin their enthusiastic answers, his eyes never leave their faces. The way he responds to their stories brings a smile to my face and to the face of the mother. Half way through dinner his cell-phone rings causing silence to fall over the table. He shoots his wife an apologetic glance, which she returns with a scowl, before answering. The oldest two girls exchange a knowing look while their mother grows increasingly angry. He gestures as he talks into the phone, losing his broad grin. As he listens, his shoulders slump and he sighs before nodding. Finally he hangs up and turns immediately to his wife. She puts up a hand to stop his words and forces a smile, giving him a hug. He smiles back, kisses her and goes to his daughters. The youngest starts to cry as he hugs her but the other two keep their smiles. Kissing his wife one more time, he heads for the door, pausing to wave good-bye to his family one last time. As he disappears, the mother and girls drop their pretenses and allow their shoulders to drop, heads to shake and in the case of the middle girl, tears to roll. They finish in silence and get ready to leave in a practiced routine. I stand to watch them leave until a new group of diners are shown to the table.
AN: Another descriptive writing assignment for school. I do not own Flashpoint. Please review!