OVER EASY
The young waitress smiled as she approached the booth. “Would you like a menu?”
“Yes, I would,” said the old gent. He took the menu, slipped it under the left side of his jacket.
Her forehead wrinkled. “What are you doing?”
“You just gave me a menu.”
“No -- like, I meant to read.”
“I read it once. Boring.” He placed the menu back on the table.
“I'll give you a minute.” She leaned over the table and reached for the napkin holder. “Excuse me.”
“What'd ya do -- what'd ya do?” He picked up the menu and fanned the air.
The waitress straightened, turned as red as a Mexican sunset, looked around and mumbled, “I didn't do anything.”
She brushed back a loose strand of hair, regained her composure and said with a chilly tone, “Would you like to order now?”
The old guy leaned forward, squinted at the menu. “I'll have ham an' eggs.”
She slouched on one hip, scribbled on the order pad. “How do you like your eggs?”
“I like them very much.”
The waitress frowned. “No -- how do you like them cooked?”
“I like them that way.”
“I'll make them over easy.”
“I'd rather you asked the cook to do it.”
Megan delivered the order, then walked over to the cashier's counter. "That ol' guy gave me a hard time."
The cashier looked at the booth. "Mike? He always pulls a routine on new help. But he'll leave an awesome tip."
"Does he come here often?"
"Almost every day -- he owns the place."
“Yes, I would,” said the old gent. He took the menu, slipped it under the left side of his jacket.
Her forehead wrinkled. “What are you doing?”
“You just gave me a menu.”
“No -- like, I meant to read.”
“I read it once. Boring.” He placed the menu back on the table.
“I'll give you a minute.” She leaned over the table and reached for the napkin holder. “Excuse me.”
“What'd ya do -- what'd ya do?” He picked up the menu and fanned the air.
The waitress straightened, turned as red as a Mexican sunset, looked around and mumbled, “I didn't do anything.”
She brushed back a loose strand of hair, regained her composure and said with a chilly tone, “Would you like to order now?”
The old guy leaned forward, squinted at the menu. “I'll have ham an' eggs.”
She slouched on one hip, scribbled on the order pad. “How do you like your eggs?”
“I like them very much.”
The waitress frowned. “No -- how do you like them cooked?”
“I like them that way.”
“I'll make them over easy.”
“I'd rather you asked the cook to do it.”
Megan delivered the order, then walked over to the cashier's counter. "That ol' guy gave me a hard time."
The cashier looked at the booth. "Mike? He always pulls a routine on new help. But he'll leave an awesome tip."
"Does he come here often?"
"Almost every day -- he owns the place."
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301 words
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Author's Note
This story is live on the April 2013 Blue Five Notebook (thnx, Michelle Elvy)
For FLIPPO the Clown, who loved breakfast!
Coffee in the morning is inspiring. I sat in a coffee shop for years and "rabbit-eared" conversations. A recent incident caused a recall of some of the moments. My very favorite moment was having lunch (breakfast) with Bob Marvin (Flippo) when I worked for the QUBE Cable TV Network in Columbus, OH.
Other stories by Ramon Collins
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A pleasant suprise. The Undercover boss with standup. Nice job.
Beyond adorable...
Great one-liners that wrap up this very good piece!
*
Ramon,
This is so charming. The dialogue and details made me feel as if I was right there, in this diner or restaurant. Really well flushed out with twists and turns.
Yes to this piece. Good work, Ramon.
The customer must be a Norskie. Maybe a Swede. Anyway, good story. *
Ha! Oh man, I waited tables all through college so I can empathize with this waitress. Good story, Ramon. *
Good story, Ramon. Good twist. Enjoyed it.
Good story, down to earth, true to life, nice twist at the end, tying it all together in a flash of understanding. I enjoy reading it.
I like both of these characters, and especially the way you sketched the waitress.
Oh, I have had this customer! ;-) Love it, Ramon - such charm and wit, and fun.
Good one, Ramon.
Great! Works perfectly. Gave just the right amount of kick.Fun, too!
Nice!
Sweet, funny, and although you don't describe the diner, I can see it. Nice, Ramon.
Hilarious!
Loved this and a great twist to it. Funny.
*
terrific story! i enjoyed it so much! thanks for this. Fave.
YIKE! I owe 17 wonderful, charming, talented writers a read.
You hear wonderful pieces of dialog if you listen closely, instead of hearing. Dialog that would be hard to make up. Of course, there's always the discomfort of coffee coming out of the nose.
Thank you, thank you and thank YOU!
Great tension here! This is fine writing.
what a sweet adorable story.
loved it.
Good story, Ramon, enjoyable and humorous.
Super story, Ramon! Love the light touch, and the title -- perfetto! Peace *
This one charmed me. Loved the twist at the end. *
Delightful. Funny. Great twist.
this was great fun. fave :)
Tank you, tank you boyz (and girls). This is my most comments and faves ever -- and I didn't request one fave.
My flabber is absolutely gasted!
Not a wasted word. Or menu. This was quite an enjoyale read. Thanks.
Cool, cool story, Ramon. Love the twist.
hey Ramon...late to the party, but here's to keeping your flabber uber-gasted. Great fun...so, what's for lunch?
smooth read. great dialogue.