Thursday, June 14, 2007

Creature of Habit

I walked into Gemelli's today about 11:58 AM, just in time to beat the rush. I grabbed a tray and then a diet pop from the fridge and marched up to the counter to survey the delightful selections of the day - most of which were regulars, those that appear two to three days of the week. The meatballs are the exception - always present.

Today there's also broccoli, rapine, cannelloni, pizza, sausage with peppers, lemon chicken and pasta - all of excellent home-made quality.

"Chicken, meatballs and broccoli," said the familiar young woman. It was more a statement than a question.

"I beg your pardon?" I said.

"Isn't that what you want? You're in here all the time. I know what you like. That's why I don't ask you anymore if you want bread with your meal. I know you don't. That's why I don't bother telling you what the day's pasta dish is."

"Oh."

"So? Chicken meatballs and broccoli?"

"No. I'll have the broccoli, meatballs and chicken. In that order!"

She tried but couldn't quite suppress a smug grin.

3 comments:

Kathleen said...

I worked at Burger King during the lunch rush for years. You get to know the regulars and what they want. There was one guy that would come in and get a Double Whopper with Cheese, large fries and a diet Pepsi. See...20 flippin' years later, I could get the guy's order.

Anonymous said...

I have a gentleman who comes in every Sunday and he bought candles flowers and chocolates. He would always come to my line, and I wouldn't ask who they were for, what he was going to do, I just would comment on the slight total difference from the previous time"Oh its $24 this time, wasn't this $22 before?" and that would be it.

He didn't come for almost two months, and when he did come back, he had a tin of coffee, flowers, one candle, and the chocolates(Ferrero Roche). I said "Oh, Long time no see. you have coffee too this time."

"Well my wife's passed away now, so I'll only will bring one candle for her. Seems a waste to buy the four I used to, they'll only get stolen. I started to drink coffee again, even though she'll haunt me for going back to that bad habit." he chuckled.

"I'm sorry" I stammered.

"It's alright" he said. "You were always nice, that's why I come to see you." He wished me a great day, and I just felt so sad. He still comes in, he looks like the elderly professor type of gentleman. Nice man.

Kathleen said...

Crazy - I think you should take pride in the fact that you were always nice to him and that he appreciates it. It seems so hard to find a pleasant retail person anymore.