Sidenote: This short story is fictional and is made up of entirely my own ideas and opinions.

After a 20 minute walk I finally made it to the restaurant “Le Bleu Chat” it said, or at least I thought I was at the right place. My date sent me the address but didn’t say the name of the restaurant, “I’d like it” they’d said. However, just as I was about to walk in I saw a familiar face across the street waving at me and smiling. “Raul!” they were yelling, and after a minute I recognized that they was my date, and was standing in front of “El Toro”, the Mexican Restaurant across the street. “There goes my diet” I whispered to myself.

“Raul, I’m so glad to meet you! Como estas” Rick asked in a very American accent. I replied “Estoy bien, but I’m just a little tired since I was so busy at the office today”. He looked a little shocked as we walked into the restaurant.

As we arrived together at the front desk, Rick told the host the reservation name, but the host hesitated. “Sir, you requested a table for two, but I don’t see another person. I’m sorry but I can’t book you at the moment”. Rick looked puzzled for a moment, and said with a gesture “we’re both together” he said in a more serious tone. The host blinked again and apologized, he claimed he didn’t see Rick’s “friend” was already with him. We were then led to a table in the center right after that, where we took our seats.

“So, tell me about yourself! What do you do?” Rick said leaning across the table. “Well, I go to college here in the city, live in Harlem, and intern for Congressman ________” I said. I noticed that his face changed after that, seeing all the positivity drain from his face. However just as Rick was about to speak, our waiter came up to us, and took our orders. Right after he took Rick’s he turned to me, and started to speak fastly to me in Spanish. “Sorry” I interrupted, “I don’t speak Spanish very well” I stated. He gave me a look, then asked “how are you Latino but don’t speak Spanish? Are you ashamed or something?”. He walked away before I could respond.

“You do know that the Congressman is a Republican right? I mean, with his views, how can you work for him? Are you Republican?” Rick asked, breaking the silence. “Well, yeah, I’m Republican, and I do agree with most of his views. He’s very nice and down to earth as well” I replied, not thinking anything of it. “A gay Republican? A gay Republican? How is that even possible” he stated in disbelief. I responded saying “I mean you’re looking at one right now so, yes it is possible”. Rick didn’t act the same after that.

It turned out that really ticked him off so much that he just quit the conversation, making room for an order of silence at the table. I got up at one point and headed towards the back to wash my face. However, just as I got to the restroom entrance, a man shoved his coat at me, and told me to go check it. “Well, did you understand what I just said” he asked. “Do you speak English? Or did you just arrive here?” he said as he got madder. “I don’t work here sir” I answered coldy. He froze for a minute, then grabbed his coat and walked fastly to another waiter.

I stood there, and in mid-thought wasn’t able to move. All in one night, i was just offended four times. The first with the Mexican restaurant, then the host, then the waiter, then Rick, and finally a complete stranger. I looked around me and saw everyone gabbing, eating, and the waiters walking around. I sat there watching, and for the first time didn’t feel like I fitted into the crowd. I looked at Rick, who was on his phone texting someone. “We wouldn’t get along” I muttered to myself, and looking at the door, thought about leaving. And I could’ve, left all of these assumptions behind. But I instead walked back to the table, sat in front of Rick, and acted as myself.

Tomorrow we’re going to “Le Bleu Chat”, and since he’s French, we’ll see how he fits there.