Lamb chops and collard greens

I was on the bus back from my boyfriend's place. It was late at night and I was zoning out when I got on the bus, but I did notice the black and white striped chef pants and white shirt of a man who got on at the same stop. He placed a fragrant stack of take-out boxes in a plastic bag next to him in the front seat of the bus.

I found my own seat further back and continued in my unfocused reverie until noises from the front of the bus began to permeate my consciousness.

"Oh man I like to get those lamb chops, you know, some good lamb chops, and then, mmm, I like to, mmm, stuff 'em with bleu cheese and cover 'em with onions, and then um, I like to sear 'em and bake 'em...." The cook was regaling the bus driver with his epicurian adventures and I got to eavesdrop.

And unlike the prattle of most front-seat-bus-talkers (ahem, Transit Man), the driver liked it: "Mmmm oh my god you making me hungry!" she said. The cook needed no more encouragement to continue on his best-of reel.

"And um, I like to get those collard greens, and cover them all up in butter, and I like to get some scallions..."

"Mmm-hmm!"

"And then I get some potatoes...."

"Mmm, oh yeah!"

I was initially kind of annoyed at the cook - maybe because I thought he was pestering the bus driver until I realized she was enjoying herself. But we reached my stop, I too was totally entranced by the cook's words and reluctantly got off the bus.