NOSTALGIA

~ Iain Kelly

‘Are they close enough together?’

He looked at the room. It seemed crowded and cluttered, but apparently that’s how they used to do it.

‘Four round that small table?’ They would be banging elbows.

‘It’s how they wanted it,’ the maitre d’ shrugged.

The serving staff would have trouble manoeuvring in and out the small spaces.

‘And they’ve all been tested?’

‘All clear.’

It all looked so unhygienic, but that was what the couple had asked for – a wedding reception from 2019.

He shuddered, ‘And the hand gels, bleach, face masks, and wipes?’

‘Standing by. As soon as it’s over we’ll scrub the whole place down.’

restaurant
Copyright Dale Rogerson

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

My new novel, ‘State of War’ is now available to pre-order on Amazon in eBook format, paperback coming soon. Have a look at the trailer below:

Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

99 thoughts on “NOSTALGIA”

      1. Sound like the waitstaff has bottles of bleach hidden everywhere! I’ve always wondered about the salt and pepper shakers, and ketchup bottles. Can’t imagine how many cooties are on those. Well captured.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I think so too, although I do wonder if younger generations will be disgusted by some of the habits we once shared, like kissing people when greeting them, or sharing the same bag of crisps..

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  16. I’m afraid you’re right. This 2020 experience, that actually started in 2019, is going to change us. But you know, old habits are hard to break. I’m hoping things go back to normal sooner than we expect.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Fantastic Linda! I’m halfway through the final proofread, and still excited about it, which is a good sign. Hope you will like it too, look forward to hearing what you think.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  18. Ugh. How I hate what this situation has done to us. It will be more than strange returning to restaurants… I know I for one am not looking forward to working in one again!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  21. I am convinced that all this cleaning and disinfecting will make people sicker as time goes on. A little dirt never hurt anyone.

    This post made me shake my head to see how we could end up in the future. Sadly, I fear human contact will suffer even more than it has with the invention of text messaging.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  26. The staff sure sounds like fun … 😉
    As for the ‘four to a table’ — if that’s gonna be passe in the new normal after the plague passes on, many of NYC’s ‘hole in the wall’ restaurants will have no space for one diner, let alone a bunch of some … 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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  29. I suppose there are things that should have changed even before now. I, for one, am all for better hygiene for us all. A little more spacing at crowded restuarant tables would be nice as well. Really liked the dialogue and the feeling that they were looking down their noses at these primitive diners!

    Liked by 1 person

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  31. I won’t miss being kissed by almost strangers – men don’t have to put up with it! But eating out as a thing of the past is very sad. Made me thing of all those people who have had to put weddings on hold. I know it’s the marriage not the wedding that’s important, but we all love/loved a party!

    Liked by 1 person

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  34. Wonderful job with dialogue. Sad to think it might come to that — I’m reminded of the movie “Silent Running” where the man’s crewmates thought it was disgusting that he ate food that was grown in real dirt! He insists on eating a real cantaloupe in front of them, and all they could say was, “Man, that stinks!”

    Liked by 1 person

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