The Reserved Chair by the Window

Every Thursday, the reading group left one chair empty for Helen, who had moved abroad six months earlier. At first, someone placed her favourite biscuit on its arm. Later, the chair simply remained unused. When the café became crowded, the owner asked whether they could give it to another customer. Nobody answered immediately, although Helen was clearly not coming.

Marta finally moved her bag and nodded. Across the table, Peter looked wounded. He said Helen would be disappointed if she knew how quickly they had forgotten her. Marta had spoken to Helen the previous evening about her new neighbours and a broken washing machine. She almost mentioned this, then realised that Peter had not called her at all.

After the meeting, Marta suggested they telephone Helen together. Peter resisted, saying the time difference made things difficult. Eventually, they called from a bench outside. Helen answered while preparing dinner and seemed delighted, though distracted. When Peter mentioned the chair, she laughed in surprise. She had assumed a new member would have joined by now and taken her place.

The following Thursday, a stranger sat by the window. Peter introduced himself, then moved his own chair slightly to make room. He still bought Helen's favourite biscuits, which the stranger disliked. This irritated him more than he expected. Later, however, he sent Helen a message about the book, not the empty chair. She replied with a complaint about its ending.