Eavesdropping

It was cold and damp outside but the brightly lit candles on each table made this new downtown restaurant seem so warm and cozy. There was the smell of incense, the kind they used to burn in church. Interesting that prim little Sylvia wanted to try this new place. It seemed a little avante garde for her, and as I looked around, I realized I was in a Goth restaurant. Middle-aged me looked so out of place with my blonde hair pulled back, no make-up, plain clothes.

“Great, I’m sitting here alone, my little table an island amidst a sea of whispers.”

“Ma’am, can I get you something,” asked the waitress. Her purple hair against her white face with the stark black makeup was really a contrast to her sweet voice. “My name is Mira.”

“Thanks Mira. I’m waiting for a friend so I’ll just have a chocolate martini to start but you can bring me a menu.”

Sylvia was usually late so I amused myself by eavesdropping. As I looked towards the next table, I saw Mira talking to a man who didn’t belong here either. I was so bored I was letting my imagination take free reign. “What if Mira had gotten in with a bad crowd and this was her father trying to talk her into going home?”

Most of the others in the restaurant had such a hard look about them but Mira just didn’t fit the hard image of a Goth. I wondered what pushed her into this lifestyle. From her soft voice and polite demeanor I imagined she had a pretty nice middle class growing up. Nice house in the suburbs, loving Mom and Dad.

“Damn, where is that Sylvia?” If she didn’t come soon, I would be imagining all sorts of things. After all, I could hear their conversation, even though I made believe I was looking at the menu.

“Look, you need to get an abortion or don’t come home. Your mother can never know about this,” hissed the middle-aged man. “Stop the phony tears Mira, you know you wanted to have sex with me.”

“I’ll never hurt this baby. Just because you married my mother, you’re not my father Sam. I’ll never do anything to hurt Mom, she loves you. But you know and I know you raped me. My friends here know too.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Go home and never find me again. I’m telling you for the last time.”

“Okay, okay. Your mother gave me a note to give you. I parked my car out back, just follow me out and I’ll give it to you. I’ll never bother you again. I’m sorry Mira.”

I looked at his face when he apologized – there was no softness or sincerity there, just evil. “Don’t follow him Mira!” I screamed silently.

As the tiny Mira followed this hulk of a man outside, I panicked and acted like I needed to go to the restroom. I watched out the back window as they walked to a lonely area out back. He opened the car door and then quickly turned on Mira trying to force her in. She fought him with all her might, but she was no match for his bulk. Just then two figures stepped out of the shadows and as one pulled Mira away, the other struck her stepfather with a hammer to the head. Once, twice, three times – I lost count. One of the Goths pulled the lifeless body into the trunk of the car and drove away. The other guided the sobbing Mira to the back door.

I was horrified. I had just witnessed a grisly murder. Just then, Mira and her Goth friend were coming through the back door. I ran into the Ladies Room and stood by the door to see if I could hear them.

“Mira, your mother is better off without him. She’ll get over his loss and you won’t have to tell her what he did to you. You know I love you and we’ll raise this baby as our own.”

As Mira listened to his words, she suddenly straightened up and stopped crying. From the other side of the door I heard a completely composed voice, some of the softness gone.

“You’re right Seth. He was no good and it was only a matter of time she would have found out. What will we name our little boy?”

As matter of factly as that, Mira continued to wait on her tables. A strange calm had come over her.

Just then, Sylvia walked in. My heart was still racing but as I looked at Mira and her protector Seth, and I remembered the evil her stepfather was about to thrust on her, I knew I would take this secret to the grave. I prayed Mira would find a good life now.

“Sylvia you’re always late. I had to amuse myself by eavesdropping.”

“Hear anything good?”

“No, nothing exciting.”