A man with a briefcase comes in and stands near the register. He is uncomfortable. He is unsure whether it’s all right to just go take a seat or if he has to wait for someone to escort him past the curved counter.
He is exposed. He is on display. He won’t look at the other patrons who could probably answer his question. He has committed to some rules of behavior.
I look up a couple of times. If he meets my eye, I’ll tell him that it’s okay to sit anywhere.
Yikes. I felt like I had "AMERICANO" or the French equivalent etched on my forehead.
The waiting man gets the attention of someone in the back. He lifts his chin, smiles, nods, points with one fully outstretched arm toward the back of the restaurant and starts walking.
The rules are different in the early morning hours. Unless the back is blocked off, it's anarchy! You can sit anywhere! If you get here at lunch time, not only do you have to be seated by a hostess, but you might have to wait 10-15 minutes for a table.
A man in the black sweater and baseball cap pushes through the big glass doors. He knows his way around restaurants. Or at least around pre-dawn Big Boy. He slides into the booth in front of me with his back to me.
He orders coffee, ice water, corned beef hash with poached eggs, fruit, and an English muffin with butter on the side without even looking at the menu.
Diner Rock Star!
*******
Oh, and here's another WGA Strike video. A really funny one. Only 2:56 minutes of your time. Free! (Sold yet?)
7 comments:
I feel the briefcase man's discomfort. At Madam Mam's Thai Cuisine, though... I'm the rock star!
Hilarious video. I could so be that wife.
Kim - It's good to be a rock star someplace. Yay for the inspirational Madam Mam's!
I remember the first time I went to House of Pies, I felt the same way. I didn't know whether to sit down or wait. Now I know I can just go sit wherever.
Writing that just now made me want to eat some pie.
Liz - Ooh, House of Pies. I used to hang out there sometimes on my way to a writing group that met over on Hyperion. Fine diner. (Though the Electric Lotus across the street is also very alluring in a different way.)
Liz - Ooh, House of Pies. I used to hang out there sometimes on my way to a writing group that met over on Hyperion. Fine diner. (Though the Electric Lotus across the street is also very alluring in a different way.)
Liz - Ooh, House of Pies. I used to hang out there sometimes on my way to a writing group that met over on Hyperion. Fine diner. (Though the Electric Lotus across the street is also very alluring in a different way.)
Liz - Ooh, House of Pies. I used to hang out there sometimes on my way to a writing group that met over on Hyperion. Fine diner. (Though the Electric Lotus across the street is also very alluring in a different way.)
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