He sat quietly sipping his beer in the cool evening air. Well fed, and slightly drunk, he watched the busy crowd. Catching his attention, he watched the perfect figure of a waitress as she moved gracefully between the crowded tables. His eyes followed the yellow embroidered back pockets of her tight jeans, as she disappeared into the back.
Looking around, he examined the tiny local beer garden, complete with empty kegs, multi-color festoon lighting, and various potted flowers. A slate sign proclaimed various events in colorful chalk. A flag flapped overhead. Somewhere unseen, dishes clanked.
His gaze met hers briefly as she returned from the kitchen. He felt a momentary thrill as she walked by and brushed him with her thigh.
"Very cute," he thought to himself, lost in thought.
He was almost startled as he suddenly realized she was standing next to him. He looked up, and studied her face carefully. Unable to speak a word of German, he replied to her raised eyebrow by nodding his head. He watched her walk away, studying the ample sway of her hips.
The night passed quickly as he drank, and a damp coolness surrounded him. He watched, as though in time lapse, as the tables began to empty. Suffering from jet lag, and not eager to return to his quiet hotel room, he sat nursing his final beer, wishing he were somewhere more familiar. He listened to the familiar sizzle as he held the flame to the tip of his last cigarette and took a slow drag. The sound of wet tires on cobblestone faded, somewhere behind the tall perimeter hedge. Soon, the overhead lights flicked out, signalling the end of the evening.
Now the only patron, he watched in curiosity as she carefully cleaned the tables. Her hands made slow, smooth circular motions across the wet tables. He studied her slim waist, as she stretched to reach each corner of the table. Her back to him, bent over a table, he unabashedly imagined her naked. Much to his momentary enjoyment, she turned and slowly approached him, a slight smile on her delicate lips. She habitually folded up the damp white rag as she walked, wiping her hands unconsciously.
Placing his hand over his stein, she nodded in understanding, and hesitated, standing still, watching him. He stared back at her, his eye wide, wanting to see the most of her in the dim light. He felt his pulse quicken as he struggled to conceal a grin. Thinking quickly, he shook his empty cigarette pack. She knowingly waved at him to come.
Following closely behind her, he studied the curve of her neck. He watched as her cute black hair swayed in rhythm with her hips. He caught a slight scent of her perfume as they walked past the booths. He followed her slim figure into the alcove. The dim yellow glow of the vending machine was the only illumination in the dark alcove. He watched as she battled with the machine, wishing intensely that he knew how to speak German. He fumbled with a few word he had learned long ago, and quickly realized he was confusing matters.
