Kim visits Montreal

[noteful]

It's not that difficult to find Sylvain Gagné's restaurant. It is, as Meg said, written up in several guidebooks.

And late morning isn't a bad time to arrive, at least on weekdays -- the breakfast crowd has gone, the lunch crowd isn't really there yet. There's no line out the door, no wait to be seated, just a hadful of patrons lingering over coffee at the tables on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.

It's a beautiful summer day in Montreal.

Comments

[bannion_sight]

"Helpful of it."

A deep breath, and Kim nods confirmation.

"Yes," she says, simply.

[noteful]

"Do you know what you'll say?" Meg asks.

[bannion_sight]

"Some of it."

The look on her face is both rueful and wry.

"I guess I'll figure out the rest as we go."

[noteful]

Meg nods.

That wouldn't be her approach, but . . . well, it's not hers to approach.

"Good luck."

There's another pause.

"So, are you tired or hungry or thirsty or anything? You must have caught a really early train."

[bannion_sight]

"Thanks."

"And you're right, I did," she admits, "because the next best option would have gotten me here pretty late."

"I wouldn't say no to coffee."

[noteful]

"Why does that not surprise me?" Meg asks, faintly amused.

"Do you want to wait, or . . .?"

[bannion_sight]

"Because you know me?"

Kim shakes her head.

"Your call, Meg. I'm the guest here-- you tell me."

[noteful]

"Technically, we're both guests here."

Meg thinks for a moment.

"I'll be right back," she says.

[bannion_sight]

"Okay."

Hastily, she adds,

"Or we could go out somewhere, or-- I don't want to be any bother--"

[noteful]

Meg shoots her older sister a look that's somewhere between tolerant and amused. "That does make it easier for you to grill me about Alain," she concedes.

"Let me just tell them we're going."

[bannion_sight]

Her quick grin is impish.

"I'll admit the thought had crossed my mind. Go ahead, I'll wait here."

[noteful]

"Crossed, doubled-back, and set up camp, no doubt," Meg says.

"Be right back."

It only takes a minute or so.

"There's a place a couple blocks from here," she says, when she comes back in. "I can't vouch for their coffee personally, but Alain likes it."

[bannion_sight]

"Then it must be worth a try, right?" she teases.

[noteful]

"Well," Meg says, mock-primly, leading the way back out to the street, "he has very good taste."

[bannion_sight]

"Oh, no doubt," Kim agrees, following after.

"And in any case, it's a pretty morning for a walk."

[noteful]

"Especially if there's coffee waiting at the end?" Meg asks, cheerfully.

"So, what do you think of Montreal?"

[bannion_sight]

"Definitely if there's coffee waiting at the end."

She considers for a second, but really, it doesn't take long.

"I like it. I think if I was going to spend any great amount of time here, though, I'd have to get a lot better at French."

[noteful]

"I think that kind of just happens, from walking around the city, and hearing it, and seeing it, and using it," Meg says. "My French is much better than it was a year ago."

Not that it was bad a year ago, it was just very learned in a classroom.

[bannion_sight]

"What do the linguistics types call it -- the immersion method?"

Kim shakes her head.

"There's something to be said for it, anyway."

[noteful]

"It sort of seems like you ought to be the one dealing with a foreign language, doesn't it?

"A little?"

[bannion_sight]

"Maybe," she says, after a moment's pause. "Of course there's Welsh, and Scottish, and Irish - but I don't hear those on a daily basis, usually."

[noteful]

"I think this is it," Meg says, of the small cafe on the corner ahead.

And then continues, "Are you learning any of those?"

[bannion_sight]

"A few words here and there," Kim tells her. "There's not much need in Glastonbury, but..."

She shrugs.

"If I were going to pick one to start with, it'd probably be Welsh."

[noteful]

"That makes sense," Meg says, pushing open the cafe door.

Given family history and all.

A moment later they're settled at a sunny table, looking at menus.

[bannion_sight]

"Coffee," she says, with a blissful look on her face.

"Maybe a muffin too. According to this, they're homemade."