waterfront café

Photo by Quentin Keller on Unsplash

hot greek sun shines

as the middle-aged waitress

brings our orders.

from my seat

i cannot see the water,

only hear the lapping sea

and smell the fresh-caught fish.

a stray dog barks

at my feet,

growling his displeasure

as i finish

the chicken souvlaki,

leaving only

when my father grows tired

and chases him from

the table.

my sister laughs

until the fearless cat

wanders out from under

the shade of a large

beach umbrella.

it stares my hands down

and prepares itself

for flight.

we do not stay

for coffee.