I Thought I Knew Him.

I noticed this man always comes over to eat at our restaurant. What made me notice him was that he has a specific spot, and he only orders the same thing each and every time.

Also, he's always coming alone. Immediately he enters, he will just nod at the greetings and head to the table very close to the window. He eats, pays his bills, and leaves quietly.

Before, I'd just go to him to ask for what he would like to have, but after some time, I saw that he's always wanting the same thing. A plate of jollof rice, two pieces of meat, a bottle of cold Coke, and a bottle of water. That's all he orders for each and every time he comes around.

I thought he always came randomly, but I eventually noticed he only comes by on Thursdays, in the morning. And I'm always on the morning shift on Thursdays.

Anytime he comes, I just go to him and ask....

"Your usual, sir?"

"Yes, my usual." He would respond with a smile.

I never knew his name, where he was living, if he's married, what work he's doing, or anything... Well, I didn't ask, though.

To me, he was just that man that often comes every Thursday to eat jollof rice, drink his Coke, pay his bills, and pick up his bottled water as he steps out. That's his signature; you will always see him take the bottled water along with him while going.

Then one Thursday, he didn't come. And as a regular Thursday customer, I noticed it quickly. Well, I just thought maybe he traveled, was busy, or anything. Then the following Thursday again, he was absent. I had to call my Madam's attention about it.

"Maybe he's out of town." She responded.

The following Thursday again, he didn't come. I don't know why, but I began to wonder what could have happened.

So, I asked one of the regular customers if he knew the man and where he stays.

"You mean that man always sitting by the window?" He asked.

"Yes, yes..." I quickly responded.

"I know his area..." He said and paused, "Why?" He continued.

"We haven't seen him stop by for a while now." I said.

"Ohhh ohhh... So you didn't hear?" He said

"Hear what, sir?" I asked.

"He lost his daughter some weeks ago." He replied, lowering his voice.

I was speechless. I didn't even know what to say or how to process what I just heard.

"His daughter." I repeated.

"Yes, she just fell and died."

I felt as if I was hit with something hard. I almost lost my balance. Not only that, but I began to think back to how he would sit there to eat, looking out through the window, smiling, and the way he'd grab his bottled water on his way out.

A month and some weeks later, he came back. It was on a Thursday again. He hesitated at the entrance for a while before making his way in. I almost didn't even recognize him; he looked slimmer, smaller, and tired. He looked so unlike him.

I went to him and asked.

"Your usual?"

"Yes." He replied.

I served him and went to attend to some other customers. I couldn't stop looking in his direction, though. And I did try to locate him back then to pay my condolences, but I was told he's out of town. Don't know the best way to do that now that he might be trying to forget about it.

About an hour later, I noticed he still hasn't taken a bite. So, I walked over to him.

"Sir, is everything okay?" I asked.

He looked at the food, then at me, then stared outside.

"My daughter used to sit over there." He said, pointing to one of the round tables outside our restaurant, very close to the parking lots. It's where most of the kids do eat snacks and all.

I froze.

"She came with me every Thursday. We'd eat here first and then head over to the hospital for her weekly checkup." He said.

I never knew, I never noticed, and I doubt if I've ever seen her.

"I'm sorry about that. I thought you always came alone."

"We always come here together, and we go back together. You're just too busy to notice."

That word struck me. I immediately remembered seeing a young girl holding him maybe once or twice. There was a time they even waved at each other and smiled through the window. I had been too busy attending to customers to pay attention to it.

"She likes it outside." He said as he picked up his spoon to eat, "But she will always request that I bring her water after eating." He added.

Now I see why he's always stepping out immediately after eating with the bottled water.

"I didn't know." I said.

"It's alright." He said with his eyes already filled with tears.

"I'm sorry about that, sir." I said as I sat across from him.

We didn't really say anything; I just sat there hoping that my presence would comfort him a bit.

When he was done eating, he stood up to pay. I asked him not to worry. He insisted, and I as well insisted.

"Come again next Thursday, and I will allow you to pay." I said, and we both smiled.

He left that day, and for the first time he left behind the bottled water.

I have served him for months; I only know his usual; I know how he walks, where he sits, and such; I never really knew him. I never knew he had a daughter, and I didn't know his story.

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