“
The sign posted at the door read, “Cash Only.” It was hand-written.
“I’m not sure I have enough on me,” Hal said to Elle. She was not sure, either. They had no ATM card.
A friend from the mainland had recommended the eatery on Kauai but forgotten to tell them about the cash-only policy. Or else they did not remember.
“Shall we drive back to the resort and pick up cash left in the safe?” Elle asked.
“It’s a half hour each way,” Hal said. “Why don’t we go in and see what the place is like?”
The entrance was closed but did not appear locked. Looking through a window of the door, they were not able to spot a hostess to seat customers.
“How do you get seated?” Elle asked a man standing next to them with a little girl.
“You wait until patrons leave. Then go in and find a seat.”
As a couple was leaving, the man and the girl stepped inside. After a few more left, Hal and Elle entered.
The restaurant did not provide dining tables or chairs. Customers were seated on stools around a horseshoe-shaped counter. It opened with a view of the kitchen. Posted on the wall above it was the menu along with pictures of the dishes.
Seeing the prices, Hal and Elle checked how much cash exactly they had on them.
“Guess we don’t just have to settle for the view,” Hal said. Elle nodded.
They both ordered the specialty of the house: a saimin bowl. They had never had one before. It came with green onions, vegetables, fish cake. ham, roast pork, and wontons.
“Would you like a side dish of BBQ beef sticks with friend shrimp tempura?” the waitress asked.
“How much?”
They did a quick calculation and decided they had enough to share one. Normally they would order a beer or a glass of wine, but there was no chance that might break their budget. The place did not serve alcohol. For dessert, they considered a pastry called Pasteis de Nata (Portuguese custard tarts, they were told) but passed to have enough left for a tip.
The saimin bowl came with an unfamiliar utensil for Hal: chop sticks. Elle tried to help but he was left-handed. A patron across from them noticed and gave him a demonstration. To the amusement of others in his group. They seemed to know each other well. More likely locals than tourists, Hal and Elle figured. From what they caught of their conversation, they could not make out the language. But they spoke Englich as well.
Hal and Elle savored their main dish, though they could not peg its origin. When Elle asked the patrons across, one said,
“It’s a blend of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino. Just like us.” The others chuckled.
When it came time to ask for the check, the waitress told them, “Been paid already.”
They were astonished. “By whom?”
She would not say. They prodded but to no avail.
“What makes people do something like this?” Elle asked the patron sitting next to her.
“Why ask?” he said.
“You know the saying.”
About the Author
He has taught and written about American politics for many years.. His latest book is "Unsurpassed: The Popular Appeal of Franklin Roosevelt." He is a novice at writing fiction. He is the father of two sons with his wife who passed away in 2023.
Did you enjoy the story? Would you like to shout us a coffee?. Half of what you pay goes to the author the other half goes to expense se.g. Maintaining the web site and setting up The Best of Café Lit book each year.
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