Table 85 – Chapter 85: The Fourth Chair. A Serial Story You Decide

Today is 7 October. There are 85 days left until New Year's Eve – twelve weeks and one day. And because we'd rather not just count those days, we're going to tell them.

Starting today, a serial story runs here: Table 85. Each chapter's number is the number of days still left until New Year's Eve. Today it's Chapter 85; the last one will be Chapter 0, on 31 December. And here's the twist: you decide what happens next. With a single letter.

Important up front: the taverna, the people and Table 85 are entirely made up. This is about no real guests, and the story says nothing about our restaurant, our menu or our everyday life.

Chapter 85: The Fourth Chair

Tuesday, 7:40 pm. The taverna is half full, and at Table 85 there are four chairs. Three of them are taken.

Nora, early thirties, sits with her back to the wall, phone face down – a resolution she has kept up for twenty minutes now. Next to her is Ilias, her godfather, who at every visit first complains that everything used to be louder and then tries everything on the table. Across from them is Mrs Brandt, 71, Nora's neighbour, who carried three boxes up the stairs for her on moving day and is invited tonight as a thank-you.

The fourth chair is empty. On the seat lies an envelope. No name, just a strip of blue tape holding it shut.

“None of us put that there,” says Ilias, looking very innocent. The waitress, passing by with both hands full, only says: “It was already there when I set the table.”

Nora turns the envelope over. On the back, in pencil, almost too faint to read: “Start without me. Order what I always order.”

The three look at each other. None of them knows what that is.

Mrs Brandt clears her throat first. “You wait for the one who's missing.” Ilias is already raising his hand to order. “You start,” he says, “or the bread goes cold.” And Nora holds the envelope in her hand and feels that it isn't empty. Something small. Something hard. A key? A coin?

The bread arrives. It's still warm. The chair stays empty.

End of Chapter 85.

Your decision: two questions, two letters

Answer with a reply to the comment “Chapter 85 – Ballot” below this article, for example like this: 1B 2C. That's all it takes.

Question 1 – The envelope: What does Nora do?

A – She opens it right away. Curiosity doesn't wait.

B – She opens it after the first bite. Decisions come easier on a full stomach.

C – She doesn't open it at all. It isn't meant for her.

Question 2 – The fourth guest: Who should show up?

A – Someone who is simply late and walks through the door any minute.

B – Someone who will never come, but whose chair someone keeps free anyway.

C – Someone who has been sitting in the room all along, watching the table.

The majority writes Chapter 76. If it's a tie, a coin toss decides.

The big question: Do you wait for the one who's missing?

Mrs Brandt says: you wait. Ilias says: you start. Where do you stand? Do you wait for the empty chair, or do you begin because the evening will otherwise pass you by? Write us one sentence under the comment “The big question”. One sentence is enough.

Mini experiment: The free chair

This week, send one person who is missing from your table a single sentence: “Your chair is free.” Nothing more. Tell us what came of it, if you like.

The timetable to New Year's Eve

Chapter 85 – today, the fourth chair.

Chapter 76 – around 16 October, when we reopen. Then there will be 76 days left. That's where we count your votes.

Chapter 0 – the finale on 31 December.

Honestly: it has been rather quiet under our last articles. So this time we're making it as small as possible – one letter is enough. If only a few votes come in, we'll say so openly. And if none come in at all, the editorial team tosses a coin – and tells you about it.

85 days until New Year's Eve

85 days until New Year's Eve. Until then, a chair stays free at Table 85 – in the story, at least.

We're currently closed for our break, up to and including Thursday, 15 October. From Friday, 16 October, we're back for you: Mastiha Mezedopolio, Arndtstraße 12, 10965 Berlin-Kreuzberg, reservations on 030 612 85 386. And the Drachmen Fest? It was a celebration – the next one comes in a year, as it does every year. We'll share the date later.

Your Mastiha Berlin Team