A Bottle of Wine along using a Playroom
In Eastern Promise (EP) we currently have a playroom for kids. During recent trips to completely new Zealand along with Australia I noticed a lot of pubs along with restaurant of which have This specific facility, to the great relief of parents of young children. Except for the fast food chains like Mc Donalds, in Jakarta you just cannot go to a restaurant along with sit relaxed if you have kids. So ‘hip hip hooray!’ we currently have a playroom in EP! initially I brought my young kids in there, they were excited along with after a few minutes guarding them play, I was relieved I could sit down without worry from the restaurant along with eat my food along with drink a wine. Ah, what the hell. I was so happy with This specific ‘break’ via the normal ‘keep them under control’ efforts, of which I ordered a bottle of wine!
Not long after I had my first sip of wine, a couple walked into the restaurant. I had my back to the playroom along with had full view of every person of which walked in. I observed the couple. The guy sounded cockney British along with looked in all directions, while pointing left along with right in excitement. of which was obvious for me of which of which was his first time. His Indonesian girlfriend or wife had been in EP before. I recognised her along with she recognised me. although with so many of them via my earlier Jakarta nightlife years, of which was just a silent nod of mutual recognition. She pointed to a table in front of me along with seated herself with her back to me. Her partner seated across the table via her. I sipped via my wine along with was about to check out the kids again from the room behind me.
Suddenly the man stood up using a pointing finger. “WHAAAT!?” he said in a loud along with surprised voice. “Can you believe of which!?” For a moment I thought he was aiming at me, although then I realised he pointed from the direction of the playroom. His female partner was probably used already to his enthusiastic outbursts, along with reacted slowly. She turned her head around. The guy continued, “They have a playroom for kids in a bar? Crazy! So the parents can dump their kids along with get drunk themselves!? How terrible!”
I was frozen at my table with the glass of red in my hand. An instant feeling of shame came over me along with I tried to hide behind my wine glass. The Indonesian girl stared via the playroom at me with sad eyes along with let a deep ‘sigh’. “Sit down, honey”, she said while she turned her head around again to look at the menu. The man was still mumbling, “…unbelievable”, while he slowly fell back into his chair.
My instant feeling of guilt changed into an internal, “Wait a moment. I am not here to get drunk. I am here to enjoy some food while I do not have to watch my kids.” although somehow I did not speak out. I could counter the guy, although I did not want to embarrass the poor girl who did not seem to boil over of love for her partner. I mean, maybe she was, although she certainly was not showing of which. So I decided to stay anonymous along with lifted a Jakarta Expat tabloid high up to block my view.
although the man had spotted me. He bowed forward to his partner along with started off whispering. I knew of which was about me. I knew of which, because he kept on looking at me with disgust. I could easily figure out what he said. “He must be one of these! He probably dropped his children there along with is usually currently loading himself! Look! He carries a whole bottle of red along with probably of which’s his second because he looks so sleepy already! Terrible.” along with although I could not hear what he genuinely said, of which must have been pretty close, as the girl shook her face in denial. currently she whispered something. along with also her reaction I tried to analyse. She probably said, “No! I know the guy. He has no children. He often goes to of which area with all the bars.” The guy helped her with her loss of memory. “Blok M?” The girl confirmed his answer. He fell back from the chair using a “Woooow….”, although still kept staring at me.
Not sure if I should be happy to be recognised as somebody who doesn’t drop his children to get drunk, although instead as a regular Blok M visitor, I continued my wine. Then suddenly the wooden doors of the playroom swung open using a loud bang. There stood my two-year old son, shouting loud, “PAPA! LOOK!” I froze with the glass still to my lips. The couple stopped with ordering food along with both looked via my son to me, along with back along with forth again. I slowly turned around. Yde was holding up a tiny plastic wine glass via a dollhouse. “CHEEEERSS!” he shouted along with then hurried himself back from the room to play. Then there was silence.
I turned to the couple along using a bit sheepish, I raised my glass to them. “Cheers”, I said dry. They didn’t say anything in return, although the girl had a slight grin of sympathy. Next time you see me from the EP using a bottle of wine, of which will not be in front of the playroom.
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A Bottle of Wine along using a Playroom
A Bottle of Wine along using a Playroom