The Man on the Steps [On Hold]

o n e

The best place for Chinese food is a shop a few blocks away from my house on 53rd street.

I go there almost every week because, well, the food is great. And my mom always used to take me there too. There, as well as other small family restaurants around the city.

I know it has a name but I never bother to actually say it. To me, it is just 'that chinese restaurant on 53rd street'. Because, why not? Fridays are the days I mostly go there throughout the week, same as when I was a kid.

Besides, what else does a lonely twenty-one year old with a part time job as a waitress do on a Friday night? Sure I have friends, but then they have friends and those friends are always better and funner than me. Funner isn't a word of course, but it should be.

Today isn't any different from that. It's Friday which means I am walking all the way from my house to 53rd street. Crowds of people surround me as I walk. It's almost like drowning in an ocean at times. The people gathering around you like dark blue water and most of the time they are so rude and yell at you just for bumping accidentally softly into them.

I get it man, we all got problems but you don't need to bring your frustration out on me.

As I'm walking I begin to recognize the soft scent and breathe it in. Now, I don't always come here. Sometimes I switch it up and go to an italian restaurant or a mexican restaurant (yum) or an indian restaurant. Depends on my mood really.

I enter the place and greet the cashier which I've happened to know for years.  "Hi Suzy," I smile.

"Hey Vivian. What's it going to be today? The usual?" She asks and does that nice smile she always does that makes you want to smile again. Suzy is like my other mom to me and she's really been here for me when I need it. She's originally from Hawaii but moved here about thirty years ago when she was sixteen. My mom and her met here and I've known her ever since. It's a little funny to me how she is a Pacific Islander and owns a Chinese restaurant but it is what it is.

"Yeah, I'll go with that." I hand her the money and she cashes it in, handing me the change. I sit on a chair in a window seat and look at all the people as they pass by. Sometimes I make up stories about the people and create versions of their life that I think goes with the person.

One day I hope to actually get a life right.

My food comes four minutes later and I eat most of it. "Mmmph," I groan and place my hand on my stomach from the fullness. I can't eat another bite. I take a sip of water and get up, then walk to Suzy.

"Can I get a box to go please?" She looks up from writing something in her notebook and nods.

"Yeah, just one moment." She goes under the counter and retrieves a box, handing it to me.

"Leaving already?" She asks and picks up the pen.

"Mhmm, I've got to get going. I'll see you soon Suzy. Tell Kevin I said hi by the way." I say and get ready to walk off.

"Sure thing sweetie. Bye," She says and goes back to her writing. 

The walk back home doesn't take long, about twenty five minutes, but either way I enjoy the certain comfort it brings. Holding the plastic bag in my hand I walk closer to my apartment building and notice a man sitting on the steps.

He doesn't look too old, maybe around my age. His hands are wrapped around a styrafoam cup and they clench on to it like his life depends on it.

His long brown hair is wrapped in a vintage looking head scarf and his red and white shirt with several triangle designs is worn out and has a tiny hole in the collar area. His black jeans are in the same condition with several holes in the knees and he wears two jackets on. On is maroon colored and has a slightly dirty hood while he wears a pretty old washed out jean jacket with stains littering it here and there.

What is he doing there?

Slowly, I walk to the steps and his head flinches up when he hears my steps. I smile warmly and he gives me an awkward sort of nervous smile.

I don't say anything and just continue on inside the building with thoughts of the man on the front steps.

//

So I decided to start this new story soon because my birthday is coming up (January 17) and I am pretty excited about it. I hope you all enjoy it. x I will begin updating the next chapter once this one has a good amount of reads so that I know people are interested. I love you guys. xxx Please share, comment, and vote.