Chicken, Human, and Demon

HUMAN

A family of four stood in a lengthy line for an hour after arriving at the restaurant in a yellow cab. A husband and wife with a will to whatever's necessary to protect their family, a six-year-old son-finding his way in this world. And a 16-year-old daughter-angry at how the world works. Father in this family wore a digital stopwatch on his wrist. Screen of the stop watch turned on, suggesting 3 hours left.

Finally, they entered inside the restaurant. The buttons on the shirt of the father were stretched exposing the hairs that lived inside. Bottom hem of his pant lied well above his ankle. The slippers he was wearing were of a different color and size. One was black, and the other was brown. Whether that was their original color or color that passage of time gave them is unknown.

The mother was well-dressed–As well as one can given the tight clothes that screamed to burst at any moment. There's one thing for sure, she wasn't wearing any undergarments. No bra. The daughter's clothes foreshadowed those of her mother. But her expression didn't. A big smile with a hidden sadness covered the face of her father and mother, Coming here in a restaurant like this was their dream. Dream, that they had, finally came true. Their happiness reminded that of parents who want to grab every moment they can with their children before they go away.

The daughter's face, however, was of embarrassment. Embarrass to be in a place like this where gold plated clothes, diamond rings, and platinum crowns covered the bodies, fingers and materialistic minds of people coming to eat there. Yet she was sad somehow–Sad like a child trying to enjoy a party knowing that tomorrow she will fail in her exam.

The son differed from the rest of them. His violet eyes shined happiness on his face. Happiness that a child feels when he is enjoying a party after working hard for an entire year and achieving first rank in his exam. His Louis Vuitton shirt hanged loose over his shoulders. Silver ring on his middle finger and a gold crown on his head helped him shine in this poor family. Cuff of its long sleeve covered his fingers as he pointed towards the table on which they will eat.

Restaurant had 35 tables. Only one table was empty. It was being cleaned from the wasted food of previous family who sat there. Wasted food was more than enough to feed this family, but it was waste nonetheless. Nobody will eat it. The chicken, steak, fish, bacon, pork–all kinds of food were there–destined for garbage. After cleaning, the family sat at this table admiring the view of this gigantic restaurant.

Brown color with yellowish light shining from the twenty small bulbs embedded in the roof above gave this restaurant a warm, cozy look. An aromatic smell arousing from the delicious food cooking in the kitchen filled the mouths of this family with water. As they sat in this restaurant enjoying the smell and cozy feeling of it–they knew one this for sure that this is the safest and best place to eat in this world. They all started reading the menu. Their mouth blew wide open with their eyes coming out of their skull. The delicious dishes, this restaurant had, is something to behold. Names of these dishes were unknown to them. But the most shocking thing about the dishes was the price of them. Price like these can buy you food for a whole year. The screen of stopwatch again turned on, suggesting 2 hours left.

Waiter came to write their orders. Waiter asked to father, "What will you have, sir?"

"Water is all my stomach needs." Father replied. Waiter asked the same question to mother.

"My husband and I share dishes. Our love is unconditional." Mother replied. Waiter asked again to daughter.

"I am on a diet. I'll have a green salad, please." Daughter replied reluctantly. She was a bad liar. Waiter got worried. Are they here to eat or to drink water? He thought. Smiled on the waiter's face kept the nervousness hidden beneath. Nervousness arising from the uncertainty of whether or not waiter will receive his tip. His livelihood depended on those tips. He made his mind and again asked the same question to son.