Embarrassment

At lunch, in the station at Barcelona, I watched this guy sitting at a table on his own. Next to him was a family celebrating some happy event. A few moments later I saw him order something from the waitress and she brought a bottle of Champagne in an ice bucket - which he then offered to the family at the next table. They were embarrassed, but the fizzy had been bought and opened. So reluctantly they let the waitress pour them three glasses, and their benefactor joined them in a toast. But their lack of enthusiasm drove him back to his table to finish the bottle on his own, studying his watch, his nails and the ceiling as he did. His spontaneous generosity had won him no friends, and I thought it was all rather sad. I caught this moment as he first brought the Champagne to the table.