on the planet

There is a place where my family and I often go for brunch on weekends. This time, I went there on a weekday at the end of the year, having just finished work. I intended to line up before the opening as usual, but no one was there yet. The parking lot was empty. Looking at the sign, I realized that the opening hours for weekdays were different from the weekends.
A cold wind was blowing from a gray sky. Children from families waiting for the shop to open were running around. Beside them, a father was doing push-ups. I struck up a brief conversation with a woman who had come alone. It seemed she, too, had mistaken the opening time.
Gradually, people began to gather, though not as many as on a weekend. Exactly at the opening time, the shop door opened. I ordered my usual meal, took my seat, and looked around; everyone seemed to be enjoying their own conversations. The light outside shifted ever so slightly, and the year-end morning air began to move in silence.

On the planet. MT
On the planet. MT

休日に家族でブランチを食べに行く場所がある。仕事を終えた年末の平日、そこへ行った。   

いつも通りオープン前から並ぶつもりだったが、まだ誰もいない。駐車場も空いている。看板を見ると、休日と平日ではオープン時間が違うことに気付いた。 

グレー色の空から冷たい風が吹いていた。開店を待つ家族連れの子どもたちが走り回っている。その横で、お父さんが腕立て伏せをしていた。一人で来ていた女性と軽く会話を交わす。どうやら彼女も時間を間違えていたようだ。 

次第に人が、休日ほどではないが集まってきた。開店時間ちょうどに店のドアが開いた。   

いつものメニューを頼み、席につき周りを見渡すと、皆、それぞれの会話を楽しんでいるように見えた。   

外の光がわずかに変わり、年末の朝の空気が静かに動いていた。

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