Chapter 22 Part III Rosalie's Restaurant (chez Rosalie)

When business is good, I treat myself to restaurants.I go to Rosalie's on the Kompany Première road. The price of a soup is six sous. When I am not very rich, I order this soup. If Rosalie is in a good mood, she will give me two bowls.However, most of the time, she loses her temper!How many times have I heard her shout loudly in front of everyone, and I feel very sad: "Soup, poor man! You think I'm wasting a seat for six sous. Go!" If I cry, she says to me: "Hey, little guy, you should know my temper. I like to scold people, and I can't control myself. But, you know, everyone can't escape being scolded by me."

She would often bring me a steak without asking me to pay for it. Indeed, others had been caught by her.They were regulars, and the more she scolded, the more they laughed.As a result, she became even more angry.At such times, she would go back to the kitchen and vent her anger with the pot. Sometimes, she will do very funny things! I remember, one day, two friends came to dinner together.One of the two is fat and the other is thinner.They both ordered steak. When she brought the plate, I thought it was a joke: the fat guy had a small piece of meat in the center of the plate, while the skinny guy had a big steak.

The fat man expressed dissatisfaction, but Rosalie taught him a lesson: "Hey, do you think I'm going to eat all my money to feed you? You can see clearly that this thin man needs food more than you. Look at you, you are fat enough!" All desserts are served in the dining room, along with cheeses and cold dishes. One night, some painters made trouble and stole a large block of Gruyere cheese and a whole cold leg of lamb from her!When she found out, she yelled so loudly that the whole house seemed to be on fire.She seemed to be killing them all! The next day, they went to the restaurant for lunch as if nothing had happened.She wondered who did it, but she wasn't sure.Moreover, these painters are beginning to have a bit of fame.

Utrillo, Modigliani, and a few others often had no money to pay the bill, so they left a picture for her, or painted one on the wall.