Past Is Prologue
A Crowded Table
I own the table of my dreams because someone was desperate
Round tables are big in a way a long table never can be. Maybe it’s a Knights of the Round Table thing. No one can be at the head of a round table, so everyone sits equally around it. Maybe it’s the lazy Susan effect. Food on a round table is always within reach and so everyone is fed. Maybe it’s just how close you can scoot chairs together. Without any corners to get in the way, there’s always room for one more.
We’ve always wanted a big round table but new ones are difficult to find on a budget. That’s alright. New furniture isn’t sustainable or storied. We checked Craigslist every few months, waiting for the perfect used table. A week ago, an ad came up for an early 20th-century 54-inch round table — with leaves! The ad was curt: landline only, no texting, no email. Cash only. My husband called the number and left a voicemail. A voicemail! This was already a journey to the past.
When she called him back, the seller sounded a little elderly. She explained that she and her husband spend their retirement finding furniture to refinish and sell. The woman, her husband, and the table were an hour’s drive from us. Riley and I decided to don masks and make a date of it. On the drive, we talked about how nice it would be…
