03/17/2021
Creative Corner with Richard C. Kumengisa
Howard Johnson
The tall American stiffened as he watched the little Frenchman enter the dining-hall of the liner in which they were crossing the Atlantic Ocean. He was having breakfast and it was the third day running that the man was meeting him at table.
He wondered whether the fellow would introduce himself as usual.
The man came to where he sat with the customary affable look on his face, bowed low and looked kindly down at him.
“Bon appétit, Monsieur,” he said with an enigmatic smile.
Typically, in order not to be outdone in decorum, the American pushed back his chair, stood up and bowed equally as low and replied.
“Howard Johnson”.
The Frenchman walked with dignity to his habitual table and rang the bell for the waiter.
The American was seething inside. Outwardly his physiognomy showed troubled amicability. He was unable to finish his meal. He pushed the rest of his omelette aside, downed what was left of his black coffee and swung out of the dining-room, a scowl replacing the vacuous grin on his face.
He hurried to the captain’s office, knocked on the door and began to talk even before the door had fully opened from inside.
“Captain,” he said. “I have a prob. Some little Frenchman has been bugging me every morning since we set out. It’s driving me crazy!”
The captain opened the door wide and beckoned to him.
“Come in, Mr. Johnson,” he said.
“No, I don’t think this will take long, Captain,” replied Mr. Johnson without making any move to enter the office. “I just want your advice.”
“Fire away, Sir.”
“I go for breakfast early every morning. A Frenchman meets me at table and invariably introduces himself with great courtesy! So bloody annoying.”
“Tell me exactly what he does.”
“He bows and tells me his name, ‘Bonapiti Misway’ or something like that. So, I react with the same politeness. I stand up, bow also, and introduce myself as “Howard Johnson.”
The old captain’s gray moustache twitched for a second as he chuckled. When Mr.Johnson looked angrily at him, he laughed outright.
“Hold it, Sir,” he cried, wiping tears of amusement from his eyes.
“I assure you it’s no laughing matter, Captain!”
“Isn’t it? Look, what he says is ‘bon appétit’ which means ‘good appetite’. He wants you to have a good appetite while you eat. It’s their way. Nothing to be angry about”.
Johnson nodded a few times meditatively.
“Really!” he exclaimed and remained standing in thought for a spell. “Please teach me how to say it.”
The Captain did not hesitate.
“Bon appétit, Monsieur,” he said distinctly. “Repeat after me ‘Bon appétit, Monsieur”.
Mr. Johnson repeated the three French words several times to the Captain’s satisfaction. He thanked the naval officer and left, repeating the words to himself on and on as he went along.
He decided he would arrive after the Frenchman the next morning.
He did.
The Frenchman was already having breakfast when he walked into the dining-hall with a dignified gait. He went up to the little man and looked politely down at him for a moment.
Then he bowed low.
“Bon appétit, Monsieur”, he said in perfect French.
The Frenchman was delighted. He sprang to his feet confidently and with a most courteous bow, his right hand on his heart, made his reply.
“Howard Johnson.”
Richard C. Kumengisa
NB
Our legend Richard C. Kumengisa is in-between his two sons in the photo below.
