When the new customer's footsteps clapped in and the lone waitress (at least that was how Gen was seeing it now) welcomed him with a cheerful spring in her voice, he looked over his shoulders to find the man, but later found his near-empty bowl of breakfast to be more interesting than the ginger-haired man. Nevertheless, his ears remained with his voice and his movements and even that of the lady's when orders were received and she turned to walk back towards the kitchen.
He caught her just in time with a low rise of his left hand and said to raised brows and a wide smile, "I'd like to have another bowl, please. And a cobbler." Yes, cobblers seem to be the new favorite at this hour. "Please," he added belatedly.
It was clear in the lady's face that she wasn't sure she could extend this much courtesy towards a homeless man but the squirm flattened itself out into her trademark chipper smile and said to him, "Sure. I'll see what I can do about that." And left, taking his empty bowl with her.
Eugenides watched her back and her hips move. The look on her face had made him wonder if he was going to be forced to pay in the end, anyway, but damn her if she was going to come in the way of his breakfast! It wasn't even as satisfactory as what he would have had back home...both homes he's ever had. The coffee was bitter and tasteless. When she returns, he thought he might ask for some tea at least.
With his left hand, he took the bagel that waited patiently for him and began to tear through it.