"Why don't we sit here?" Irving said as they arrived at Rocca's and found a table. "Camerie!" Irving yelled, trying to get the waiter's attention. Immediately the waiter was at their table.
"Wow! Good service, don't you think?" Irving said to Joe. "That's why I come here so often."
"Il menu per piacere." Irving said to the waiter. Instantly, the waiter handed him a menu.
"Well, I'll say..." Irving said. "Sure can't find this kind of service in the States, can we Joe?"
Irving turned to find Joe staring out onto the busy street. "Joe?"
"Shall I come back?" The waiter asked.
"Due caffe' per piacere" Irving said.
When the waiter left, he turned to Joe. "My Italian is getting pretty good, isn't it?"
"What?" Joe asked, startled out of his daze.
"You okay?" Irving asked.
"Sure, I'm fine." Joe replied. "Thanks for ordering the coffee by the way."
"You're welcome." Irving said. "Or should I say prego.!
Joe laughed quietly. "That's very good, Irving."
"Well, Francesca's taught me a lot about Italian language." He said with a wink. Irving looked over at Joe, expecting to get another laugh. Instead, his comment was met with silence.
The waiter returned with their coffee. "Grazie", Irving said. "Vorremmo la minestra and antipasto."
"Your Italian is very good." The waiter said to Irving. "I'll bring your soup and salad right away."
"Well, step on it, will ya? I'm famished!" Irving yelled as the waiter disappeared into the restaurant.
Irving looked around. "Say, isn't this the table we sat at yesterday with Smitty?"
Joe felt his cheeks flush. "Yeah, I think you're right! How about that?"
"Is that a coincidence or what?" Irving laughed and took a sip of his coffee. "That Smitty... she was something else. Did you see how graceful and poised she was at the press conference yesterday? And did you see her face when she looked at those photos? They sure did turn out great. Good thing I made extra copies. "
"Yeah, and I certainly appreciate your bringing them by my apartment." Joe said.
"No problem." Irving replied. "Hey, that reminds me... I'm showing some of my photography tonight at the barges. Want to come along?"
Joe sighed. He definitely didn't want to go out tonight. He just needed to be alone for a while. Quickly, he rose to leave. "No, you go ahead. I've got a lot of work to do. In fact, I should probably get going. Goodnight, Irving."
The waiter reappeared with their meals. "Joe, wait! Your soup!" Irving yelled, as he watched Joe walk away from the table. "Joe!"
But it was too late. Irving sighed, as Joe vanished from sight.
"Is something wrong?" the waiter asked, handing Irving the soup.
"No, no everything's fine. My friend had to work." Irving said.
"Oh okay. I'll take this back to the kitchen." the waiter said.
"No! No!" Irving said. , seeing the look of surprise on the waiter's face. "I-I mean, I'll eat his soup as well. No sense of this food going to waste, right?" He laughed in spite of himself, disgruntled, when the waiter didn't even smile.
What was with people today?
"Very well, sir." The waiter said. "I'll be back to check on you un momento."
"Grazie, Grazie." Irving said, waving the waiter away. He took a spoon-full of soup. "Mmmm... that's wonderful!"