The Dreams of Youth

Then there was the evening after watching South Pacific. They stopped at a nearby café, took their seats at a long counter, and discussed the lively production.

Rita suddenly became excited when she saw the man two stools down. She nudged Maggie. “That’s Burt Lancaster!” she whispered. “Say something!”

Maggie knew she would never forgive herself if she didn’t speak. So even though they were just having coffee, she bravely turned to him.

“Excuse me. Can you please pass the salt?” she asked.

He looked at her cup of coffee, and then handed her the salt, watching to see what she would do with it.

Feeling his eyes on her, Maggie shook some salt into her coffee and passed it to Rita, who did the same. When he didn’t look away, they had no choice but to drink the coffee.

He slowly shook his head and went back to reading the paper.

The two women assumed an elegant, sophisticated demeanor as they sipped their salty coffee, their shoulders only slightly shaking from their suppressed laughter.