A Table for One

Mia goes into a small restaurant at nine. The room is almost empty. A tired waiter in a white apron points to a table in the corner.

Mia ide o deviatej do malej reštaurácie. Miestnosť je skoro prázdna. Unavený čašník v bielej zástere ukáže na stôl v rohu.

"Just one?" he asks. Mia says yes. She always travels alone. She is a little nervous. The menu is on one small piece of paper.

"Len jedna?" pýta sa. Mia povie áno. Vždy cestuje sama. Je trochu nervózna. Jedálny lístok je na jednom malom papieri.

Mia points at a word. She does not know it. The waiter smiles. "The special," he says slowly. "My grandmother's food. If you do not like it, I bring something else."

Mia ukáže na slovo. Nepozná ho. Čašník sa usmeje. "Špecialita," povie pomaly. "Jedlo mojej babičky. Ak vám nechutí, prinesiem niečo iné."

The food comes in a heavy bowl. It is hot, with garlic and little pieces of bread. Mia tries it. The waiter watches her from the bar.

Jedlo príde v ťažkej miske. Je horúce, s cesnakom a malými kúskami chleba. Mia to ochutná. Čašník ju sleduje od baru.

Mia gives him a thumbs up. He laughs and fills her glass again. "Good," he says. "Come back tomorrow. Then I tell you what is in it."

Mia mu ukáže palec hore. Zasmeje sa a znova jej naleje pohár. "Dobre," povie. "Príďte zajtra znova. Potom vám poviem, čo je v tom."