Dinner with a bunch of introverts

"Guys, we ran out of ice."

"Let's call the waiter."

Eyes stared downwards at phone screens. 

"I can't have more drinks without ice," someone said.

"Then we get some," said another.

-

"Hey, we still have a full bottle why aren't we drinking?"

"No ice."

"Can someone get the waiter?"

Like clockwork, Eyes stare back at their phones. Case dismissed.

-

In this bustling restaurant, servers serve while diners happily dine.

Muffled chat and ambient music cloaked tables like spies in reconnaissance.

The clanking of glassware,
Fork tines tangoed with serrated dinner knives,
Soft pecks from napkins dabbed at food-stained lips,
The soft metallic whoosh of moving spoons,
Like kingfishers swooping down to catch mouthful prey.

-

The sounds became clearer as myopic eyes fresh from LASIK.

In the table of 7, a hand suddenly shoots up.

The first spring flower blooming from winter snow...

"Could we have some ice here please?"