The Cafe Memory

I am outside in a small town. I am with other officers and we're at a cafe with a front garden area with tables near the street. The sky is cloudy, but we are not wearing coats, so it must be spring or summer. I think Willy Reinhardt is one of the gentlemen with me. We are hungry. I keep seeing a bottle of wine placed upon the small round table that we are sitting at. I think there must be four of us. Sitting back in a relaxed position with my elbows resting on the arms of the chair, hands interlocked on my lap, I have crossed my legs and put them up on the empty chair to my left. We are all in uniform, but we are by no means being formal.

I watch people walk up and down the street and listen to the rather lively conversation that the guys are having. I think we are waiting for the waiter to come back with our food. Reinhardt is sitting across from me and that's why I remember him so well. He is either explaining something or telling a story in great detail. I remember him making gestures with his hands and looking us all in the eye to make sure that we were following what he was saying. I get the impression that I liked this man very much in that I could always count on him to be genuine and trust worthy. All the qualities that one likes in a person he had.

The waiter came out and wanted to discuss something with us. They did not have something I wanted, and he wanted to know if I would accept something else he came up with. I had no problem with that. The waiter wore a dress shirt, tie, vest, and a white apron, and had jet black hair that was thick. He also had a large nose and dark eyes and spoke with an accent. He seemed a little nervous. It probably wasn't easy to serve a group of foreign soldiers. The sun started to peek through the clouds. I continued to watch people come and go, but now I could enjoy the warm sun on my face. I think it had rained earlier, so the air had a moist warm feeling to it. It was quite pleasant.

I think the cafe was close to the outer end of the small town or village. I can see an open field next to the building that is across the road from the cafe.