Quote Originally Posted by Timsup2nothin
With 'The manager', if you would expand on the 'intriguing' I'd appreciate it. There are some intentionally unsaid things in that paragraph meant as a draw, but not meant to be misleading. Assuming the next paragraph expands on the manager, where would you be expecting it to go?
Intriguing... This came from the word "missed" in that last sentence. This triggers many, many assumptions and questions about the narrator. He's not just sitting here watching people - he's been here before, and, if he's missing that glow, he is apparently one of "those who have been in the light of the other smile".

Then I wonder, What is the narrator's relationship with the manager? How often has he seen her? Is this café/restaurant the only place he sees her? Where else do they meet? Since there are "those" who see the other smile, there must be more than the narrator. Who else is in this circle of close acquaintances/friends? Does the narrator compete for the manager's attention with these others?

Funny how much one word can do.