“Isn't that Burt Reynolds over there?” my mother asked in a whisper as subtle as a weed eater.
“Where?” my father asked, turning in his chair to scan the diner.
“Over THERE!” my mother said, fumbling in her purse for her new Kodak Instamatic camera.
We were vacationing in Jupiter Beach, Florida, over the Memorial Day weekend. I was 12 years old and Burt still had his own hair. It was before his romance with Lonni Anderson.
I was duly impressed that my parents had found a restaurant where we would sight a movie star. Burt was totally into his steak and potatoes, oblivious to our excited table.
“Should I go over?” Ma asked, wishing she could freshen her lipstick while finger-combing her frosted hair.
“Sarah, fagodsake, let the man eat in peace. No one wants to have their picture made with food in their mouth,” said Pa.
We all watched Burt Reynolds closely. I noted that he cut each piece of meat precisely and carefully, then ferried the chunks to his mouth with his fork tines facing down. By contrast, my Pa stabbed his food as if he was killing the animal for sure one last time before eating it.
Burt moved on to a giant piece of Texas toast that he daubed in his steak juices. I was staring real hard just at the moment he looked up and saw me. He put his fork down and slowly winked at me, one of those exaggerated winks that people make when they want you to know it wasn't just a blink. Then he grinned at me and pushed his chair back.
Burt Reynolds was standing up. He was walking. Toward our table!
Burt Reynolds was standing at OUR table.
He thrust a pen at me and said, “Miss, may I have your autograph?”
I froze. He turned to my Ma and then my Pa and said the same. When no one said a word, he said, “Didn't think so,” and walked away.
That was the last time my family gawked at someone famous. Pa was real happy, some years later, when Burt went bald.
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This never happened.
Sure it never happened. But that's your story and you're stickin' to it.
Good one, Gita.
”Hey look,
over there.
It’s Frank Sinatra,
Sitting in a chair.”
-Lori Anderson
Loved this.
I like Pa. Good story. Great one to read on this early morning.*
Great image (great observer, too): "my Pa stabbed his food as if he was killing the animal for sure one last time before eating it." *
Excellent snapshot.
Marvelous story! My favorite metaphor? ..."whisper as subtle as a weed eater," of course. *
What a great little story.
fagodsake,
have their picture MADE
Yes!
Hahaha! A friend of mine worked for him at one point. He bought her Mom a star in heaven when her Mom died. He's really quite a nice guy. Great little snapshot.*
Ha!
(I larfed)
Good image. The piece works. Good compression.
Excellent! Well written with some great/vivid descriptions!
loved this!
too long since I read
something from you.
great as always.
I could just see this family
staring at the man, just staring at him exactly as described.
Hilaarious and perfectly paced. Fave*
This came with smiles. Good wind-up and totally credible as if it "could really" have happened. *
Nice take on a family. More underneath. I once dined next to Eddie Rabbit in Ft. Myers. Big hair. Wonder where he is today.
Thanks for the comments and love. I've never been to a diner in Jupiter Beach, but I once heard that Mr. Reynolds built and supported a theater there. So he must be nice, you know, to give back to striving actors.
Fave. What a great idea for a story. Gita, you tell it so well.
Ha ha!!! This is so damn funny. Love it! Great details throughout. Fave.
Excellent story, Gina! Funny, delicate, perfectly enunciated. Yes!
*
Matt I love when you call me
G-i-n-a.
good stuff.
Burt Reynolds of all people!!! Funny, and true, Gita.
Thank you, too, for reading and commenting on Sin. I like this Fictionaut place. Good people who are good writers.
This cracked me up and reminded me of the time my mum went to see Wayne Newton. We still tease her that she threw her unmentionables on stage...she was 70.
Very funny. Love that last line. Pa is awesome!
So well-written and very, very funny. *
HA! Good one.
Very amusing - loved Pa's speech.
Are you sure mom wasn't pissed she didn't get the shot?
Wow, sounded like it really happened. Great pacing, great writing!
Very funny. I would have crawled under the table, hair or no hair. You have a magic charm.