Two Parables

I went to Pizza Express en route to The Road.

I was impressed by the fresh flowers on the table, but when I went to pay the bill my card wouldn't work. Three times. I was in a hurry to get to the cinema, so it was agreed I'd return later with the cash.

The Road was brilliant: a bleached-out parable of stained humanity in a post-apocalyptic world. With excellent sountrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

I nearly forgot to return to the restaurant but I detoured to the bank and wandered back. After waiting several minutes with a glass of water kindly offered by the waiter, the manageress appeared with the offending receipt in hand.

"Are you here to sort this out?" she asked.

"Of course," says I, "A deal's a deal".

"Well," she says, "You've restored my faith in humanity... not everyone would come back like that, sir, so I'd like you to have this on me". And she wouldn't take my money.

Wonderful.

image & words: peter thomson