2024/01/23
Fireballs and ramen noodles
Back when I was working at my former workplace, I went to lunch at a ramen noodle restaurant. When I was looking out of the window, waiting for the ramen I ordered, I noticed a fireball falling from the sky. Surprisingly, there were more and more fireballs coming after. I could see from the glass windows that people were starting to gather around the restaurant, and finally, a fire truck arrived.
The restaurant staff were so focused on preparing the ramen that they did not notice what was going on outside. I couldn’t relax but had to wait for my bowl of ramen to come, and all I could do was to signal with my eyes in bafflement at the gentleman next to me.
I later learned that the electric sign of the restaurant’s building had caught fire, and the melted parts fell in balls of fire.
Just when my ramen arrived at my table, a firefighter rushed inside the restaurant, yelling at us to evacuate the building. After all, I couldn’t have my ramen.
(Okamura)
The restaurant staff were so focused on preparing the ramen that they did not notice what was going on outside. I couldn’t relax but had to wait for my bowl of ramen to come, and all I could do was to signal with my eyes in bafflement at the gentleman next to me.
I later learned that the electric sign of the restaurant’s building had caught fire, and the melted parts fell in balls of fire.
Just when my ramen arrived at my table, a firefighter rushed inside the restaurant, yelling at us to evacuate the building. After all, I couldn’t have my ramen.
(Okamura)
We do not get a chance to see fireballs very often ? it should be quite a surprise to see them suddenly fall from above. I am amazed at how calm he was in this situation as if the fireballs were nothing. It is so funny to imagine what Okamura, the gentleman, and the restaurant staff looked like! This is truly an “one-in-ten-million day.” It is so much like a Rakugo story that it makes me want to share it with others so badly.