3116

The warmth

A man who retired from his company that day was eating a bowl of buckwheat noodle in a restaurant near the station. It had a fried prawn on it, and costed only 500 yen. Though he had come there almost every day for thirty years, he had never talked with a clerk. It was because he had no reason to talk to him, but that day, he did talk to the storekeeper who looked as old as he. “ … To tell the truth, I retire today.” “Oh, really?” The conversation stopped. There was no other topic for their conversation. His retirement meant it was the last day that he came to this restaurant. Suddenly, the storekeeper added one more fried prawn to the man’s bowl without saying anything. “Oh … can I eat it?” “Sure. Don’t bother.” “But … I didn’t order … but thank you.” The storekeeper didn’t reply. The man hesitated, but at last, he ate it. He finished a bowl of noodle entirely with tears in his eyes. Feeling the warmth of the storekeeper, he couldn’t help crying. He decided that he would come to this restaurant after he retired. After eating, he walked to the cash desk and took out a 500 yen coin. “May I have the check?” “800 yen.” （[]）