Lunch at the Gotham Cafe - Stephen King

Written by Stephen King
Read by Anthony Heald
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

A short story which is included in King’s Everything’s Eventual anthology.

A man named Steve Davis comes home one day to find a letter from his wife, Diane, coldly stating she has left him and intends to get a divorce. He has no idea what events lead to this, and over time he becomes increasingly depressed. Diane’s departure prompts him to give up cigarettes, and he begins to suffer nicotine withdrawal. Diane’s lawyer, William Humboldt, calls Steve with plans to meet with the two of them for lunch. He decides on the Gotham Cafe and sets a date. Steve’s lawyer is unable to attend due to a family crisis.

Before entering the Cafe, Steve impulsively buys an umbrella. Upon entering, he finds that the maître d’, eventually revealed to be named Guy, is talking senselessly about a dog. When Steve attempts to seek reconciliation with Diane, things begin to fall apart. Much to Steve’s consternation, she regards him with a mixture of contempt and apprehension, and spurns his requests for explanation. The maître d’ then makes a surprise reappearance, drunkenly insane, chanting “Eeeee!”, and stabs Humboldt through the head with a knife. Steve briefly fends off the lunatic with his new umbrella, then drags the helplessly terrified Diane into the kitchen. Guy gives chase, and after giving the cafe’s cook a grisly injury, proceeds onward. Desperately struggling to hold off the lunatic, Steve implores Diane to unbolt the rear entrance door so they can escape, but she remains in a state of shock. He is able to incapacitate Guy by dousing him with scalding water and whacking him with a metal frying pan…