The Unexpected Guest

Mateo gets home from work at six o'clock every evening. He cooks a simple dinner and watches the news. Tonight, he puts a pot of rice on the stove. He turns on the television and sits down on the sofa.

The rice starts to boil, and the kitchen smells warm and good. Mateo checks his phone for messages. There are none, so he puts it down again. He thinks about a quiet night alone.

Then somebody knocks on the door. Mateo doesn't expect anyone tonight. He walks to the door and opens it slowly.

"Quinn? Is that really you?" Mateo says, surprised.

"Hi, Mateo! I was in town, so I decided to visit," Quinn says, smiling.

Mateo didn't see Quinn for almost three years. They shared an apartment in college. Now Quinn lives in another city and works as a nurse.

"Come in, come in! I can't believe you're here," Mateo says.

Quinn steps inside and looks around the small kitchen. "Something smells amazing. Is that rice?"

"Yes, but there's plenty for two," Mateo says. "Sit down. Tell me everything."

They sit at the kitchen table, and Mateo brings out two bowls. Quinn talks about the new job and the new city. Mateo turns off the television. He doesn't need it anymore.

For an hour, they talk and laugh like old friends. The rice gets cold, but neither of them minds.

"We should do this more often," Quinn says. She stands up to help with the dishes.

"Next time, call me first," Mateo says, laughing. "But you can always visit without calling."