From the Image Gallery
Fast food, slow people
A burger restaurant was the only place in the area where I could get a bite to eat. I hadn’t eaten yet that day and the supplies in the truck were long gone.
I was somewhat in a hurry and was hoping it would a quick in and out. No such luck, a single line was backed up to the door and for a few seconds I contemplated skipping a meal. A rumble in my stomach made me decide otherwise. The line was moving slowly, and while the person at the register was working as fast as she could the orders left the kitchen at a snail’s pace.
Just ahead of me was a family of five, mom, dad and three kids between 5 and 10 years old, to my best estimate. Dressed in colorful outfits, which convinced me they were tourists, and chattering non-stop they made their way to the counter.
“What can I get you today”, asked the friendly employee with a smile. And then it started. Before mom or dad could say anything the kids started yelling at the same time and within moments the three youngsters turned into a screaming wild bunch. All that commotion made it impossible for mom to figure out what they actually wanted. She tried to calm them down while dad stood at the sideline with a helpless look on his face. “If you don’t settle down we will leave and you won’t get anything”. That statement made some impression and finally they controlled themselves well enough to turn in their order. But that was not the end of it. Mom decided they couldn’t have what they wanted, either it was not healthy enough or the portions were too big. And right away the mayhem started again. I looked behind me and judging by the looks on their faces quite a few people were just as disgusted as I was.
Finally dad stepped in. A few words from him were enough to reestablish discipline and less than a minute later the cashier could ring it up. Dad kept it simple with a burger and medium fries but mom had to have something that was not on the menu and promptly started a discussion with the cashier whose smile was long gone. While the order was being prepared the cashier looked very uncomfortable, perhaps even scared that customer inspection could cause further delay. And that was exactly what happened. As soon as the tray was put on the counter mom went over it with an eagle’s eye and found something to complain about. It was more than dad could handle, possible embarrassed by his family he grabbed the tray and walked off with it. Mom had no choice but to follow husband and kids. The sigh of relief from at least 15 people could be heard in the entire building, I’m sure.
These people had been standing in line for maybe 20 minutes, which means they had plenty of time to decide what to get and be ready when it was time to order. This is a fast food place; there are menus with big pictures on the wall. Be prepared, especially when it is busy, and don’t waste everybody’s time.
When I walked out with my order in a paper bag I could see the family sitting at a corner table. If they took just as much time eating as they did ordering they would have some cold food, I’m sure.
City of Ages - eBook coming soon
AZTrucker’s wife is the author of the new City of Ages book.
The first book, City of Ages, is a sword-and-sorcery tale where time and life and the world are at once familiar and bizarre. It’s the story of two people involuntarily thrown into the roles of heroes. Best intentions have nothing to do with being herded into a fate the lead characters didn’t choose.
In fact, they are treated as little more than pawns in a quest they cannot begin to fully grasp. Nor are the heroes perfect people in the City of Ages saga. The main characters are at turns funny and bitchy, ambitious and lecherous. Through all else, however, they are driven by terror. Power and magic dog them, taunting them with their own abilities – abilities they don’t want and can’t shed.
The City of Ages author and her hubby AZ Trucker live in Arizona, surrounded by the extremes of the desert and by enough children and grandchildren to know that the best and most important people alternate loving kindness with moodiness and insensitivity. City of Ages is coming soon to Amazon for Kindle. In the meantime, check out the City of Ages official site at cityofages.com.
