TREATMENT

The atmosphere of a busy backstreet French cafe can not be beaten, especially during the lunch time rush. Every week Mrs. Allan forgets to come during the less busy period, but as her body has shrunk with age, so too has her brain. And now she struggles to remember where she is half the time. Balancing her teapot and bag of doughnuts on her tray she navigates between the suited business men and women. A sigh of relief is bestowed upon her as she locates the last empty seat.

Awkwardly there is already an old man sat at the table, he watches as Mrs. Allan struggles to mount the chair. Flustered, but still maintaining her dignity, Mrs. Allan begins to pour her tea into the cup. Meanwhile the lanky old man leans down by the side of the table where Mrs. Allan had put her bag of doughnuts and handbag before launching herself up onto the chair. To her horror the old stranger produces the bag of doughnuts and begins eating them. The open bag sits in-between Mrs. Allan and the old man. Disgusted by his despicable manners Mrs. Allan grabs the bag and places it near her. She begins to munch on one of the round sugary treats.
Excited by the taste she reaches into the bag for another doughnut. The old mans dry and wrinkly hand brushes past Mrs. Allan’s. She rapidly removes her hand from the bag. The old man becomes slightly embarrassed by the close encounter. He looks into the bag and notices there is only one doughnut left so he breaks it in half and offers one part to Mrs. Allan. She snatches it out of his hand and eats it. Repulsed by his behaviour she stands to leave. Just as she is about to go she remembers her handbag. Mrs. Allan’s anger is abruptly replaced by an enormous feeling of embarrassment as she sees that her full bag of doughnuts is still on the floor, by the side of the table.

The End