The Dim Lights

Short Story Day 113 of 365

When Colin Rickards took his core college graphic design courses, he never imagined he’d be a critic of fonts, font sizes, and ambience.

The 91st Aero Squadron Restaurant and Grill changed all that.

Situated near the runway of a regional airport, the steak and seafood restaurant touted a World War II theme with memorabilia hanging from the rafters and autographed photos of pilots and their military achievements on the walls. Weekend nights were especially busy because of the chance to see takeoffs, landings, and occasional red foxes outside. With that possibility came a dimly lit restaurant with 8-inch tall electric candle lamps on each table. No overhead lighting after dusk.

The dim lights were a feature, not a bug.

When the in-laws came to town, Colin decided to treat them to a great meal at a fine restaurant. Mr. Carson was a World War II aircraft buff, so Colin knew he would fall in love with the place. Mrs. Carson would enjoy it because family would be there.  

It’s been said that as people age, their eyesight is the first thing to go. The Carsons were both in that camp.

Mrs. Carson, in desperate need of cataracts surgery in both eyes, squinted as she came into the restaurant, squinted as the waiter brought out the menus, and gave up trying to read the menu. Even the professional graphic designer Colin commented on the tiny and gray font on the dark menus in a dimly lit restaurant to newcomers was How Not to Do Graphic Design 101.

But Mrs. Carson grabbed the electric table lamp and held it directly over the menu to read each item. Even the waiter apologized for the dim lights, noting it was a tradeoff to be able to view the family of red foxes right outside the window.

Pity that, because with her cataracts, Mrs. Carson couldn’t even enjoy that wonderful sight.