A Well-Placed Nine-Top
Written by Susan Severson
While recently chatting about life over a glass of cabernet, my sister-in-law, Maddie, began regaling me with a story of a particularly wretched waitressing shift that she’d had. The tale included tables of complainers, a lack of tips, and running around like a mad woman (Hm. Sounds like some of my days at home, actually). When she saw she had to wait on a reserved nine-top, she was a bit apprehensive. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw nine young women, some visibly pregnant, others with babies on their hips, breezing through the door in a gust of laughter and diaper bags (yes, I am taking some creative liberty with the imagery in this story: it is how I imagine it!).
Once the women were settled, Maddie asked them what occasion had brought them together. One woman immediately responded, “We have just finished our book club for the year!” I can just imagine the astonished looks on their faces when Maddie replied, “Oh! Well-Read Mom?” They were amazed that this young, 20-something waitress knew what Well-Read Mom was (and even more amazed when they learned that the WRM foundress had taught Maddie’s literature class). But that’s not what stuck with me when Maddie told me this story. What struck me was her recognition that she and her miserable shift were changed by the beautiful conversation and the joy that emanated from that table of women.
Maddie heard snippets of discussion as she filled glasses and brought out porcelain plates of steaming vittles. The group of friends reminisced about the books from the past year, hashed over beloved and hated characters alike, and speculated about next year’s theme. It seemed to Maddie as though her shift was redeemed. That the very atmosphere of the restaurant had shifted. Now, perhaps that was Maddie’s own biased perspective. Perhaps she had just been having a hard time and then felt herself to be amongst friends. But I know better.
I know that when women come together to talk about good literature, it sparks a deep, beautiful, and even cleansing component to places, people, and experiences. I’ve seen it. There are times when I leave an interaction with a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’m disappointed in the exchange either because it was shallow and superfluous or because there was too much or too little said. Beginning a conversation from a place of beauty lends such an opportunity for fruit. Fruit in our friendships, fruit in our families, or even (dare I say) fruit in the ones who simply witness something genuine and true.
What a gift to have walked this year with all of you, and what a blessing for me to have been able to see, through my dear sister, that the world is being transformed—transformed one heart, one waitress, one nine-top at a time.
About Susan Severson
Susan Severson is a wannabe saint, a homeschool slogger, a sometimes-but-wants-to-be-all-the-time writer, and a mother to four little rapscallions. Prayers are welcome. She resides in Crosby, MN.
About Well-Read Mom
In Well-Read Mom, women read more and read well. Our hope is to deepen the awareness of meaning hidden in each woman’s daily life. We long to elevate the cultural conversation and revitalize reading literature from books. If you would like us to help you select worthy reading material, we invite you to join and read along. We are better together! For information on how to start or join a Well-Read Mom group visit our website wellreadmom.com
