'Puzzled'

Episode 26 - Bar Menu

Episode 26 - Bar Menu‘Swiss Hotel’, Nice, France, 27 December

I couldn’t have been so mistaken. The woman who has just walked into the ‘Swiss Hotel’ is undoubtedly her and no one else.  I know perfectly well how she looks and what her name is. Perhaps she is just visiting someone in the hotel, I grasp at the thought.

But what am I to do now? Surely, I can’t spend all day, watching the entrance of the ‘Swiss Hotel’. What if she stays over and leaves only tomorrow morning?

Perplexed, I stare at the receptionist. My stomach growls loudly.

'Excuse me,' I say, coming out of my bewilderment, ' is there a restaurant in here?'

'No, there isn't, I'm afraid. But we can offer you a bar menu.' she replies and pushes the menu to me. I take it, a big choice of alcohol drinks but nothing of a substantial nature to eat, it seems... 

I order a beer, some olives and canapés. Not much, but better than nothing. I sit down at the bar so that I can observe the entrance to the hotel and wait. Soon, my order arrives. I throw a piece of canapé to Domino. He sniffs at it, then probes it cautiously and, finally, refuses it. I gulp some beer down and, in one go, finish the canapés and olives.

The two hours have passed, but still no sign of Her. Now, I'm sure she's come here to see her lover. I should have guessed it really.

The dusk falls. I order more beer and get the pack of cigarettes out, just the right moment to smoke my first ever cigarette. I light up and inhale deeply, but at once explode into coughing.

Bewildered, Domino looks up at me. I make another attempt. This time, I take short, cautious puffs aided by frequent sips of beer. I throw a glance at the clock: it’s six o’clock.

Finally, I decide to leave. Domino, his tail wiggling, follows me; the leash trails behind him. Taking the collar off him, I head towards the parking spot where I left my car. But Domino seizes me by the jeans and tugs me back.

I stop and give him a stern stare. Undeterred, he turns his head towards the ‘Swiss Hotel’ and bursts into loud barking. I glance in the direction of the hotel entrance and see Her in a dark purple evening dress, walking out and getting into a taxi.