It's late in the afternoon on the day before my birthday and I'm immersed in research for a film I"m working on about Charter Schools. I'm starving so I head to Denny's. I started going to Denny's as a kid growing up in Southern California. We were part of a car club-- a Toyota club-- and we'd always stop at a Denny's that dotted the frontage roads up and down I-5. Food at Denny's is consistent--whether you're in Honolulu or Oklahoma. Do they spend a fortune on training cooks and preparing recipes? I ordered my $3.99 Grand Slam and continued to read. Several women, sitting at counter, wore the Hi-jab, which first struck me as odd....what was more odd was that they were smoking cigarettes. I don't know why but I just assumed women didn't smoke in public. I don't know why I thought that.
I couldn't focus on reading because the people were far too interesting. A tall man walks in wearing a Dallas Mavs jersey. It was a LaFrentz replica-- I thought: "Wasn't he was traded seven years ago?" The tall man asked for a job application. The waitress gives him one and he goes outside. He's completing it, I guess.
By now, food has arrived. My waitress is from Mexico. I surmised it because she was wearing a Mexican flag as a lapel pin. In addition to my Grand Slam, I ordered hashbrowns with a side of grilled onions. When the waitress brought the food I noticed the onions weren't grilled, but slightly above raw. I looked at her and said, "Miss, could I have these grilled more." She smiled and walked away, not taking the onions. I thought this was odd, but I fail at communicating a lot.
A guy walks in wearing a shirt indicating he works for a trucking company. All of the waitresses greet him, "Hi George, how've you been?" George waves, walks to the counter and orders coffee. One of the waitress--not mine-- explains that she will make a fresh pot. George lights up a cigarette, sitting next to the women who are smoking.
The tall man wearing the Rafe LaFrentz jersey walks back in with the completed application.
Waitress: "You'll need to talk to the manager and he is only here on Wednesday's."
Tall Man: "What time?"
Waitress: "He's here from 11 to 4, but you should come after lunch rush, between 2 and 2:30.
She looks over his application, presumably to make sure it's been signed. " I see you have a college degree," she said. "The only opening we have is for dishwasher and busboy." The tall man says, "I also have a teaching certificate but I haven't been able to find any work. I'll do anything. I don't have a car but I live just three blocks away and I can walk. Will you tell the manager that I am dependable?"
She nodded.
The tall man thanked her and disappeared.
I am disillusioned because I came to the restaurant to read the 39 articles about Charter Schools, but instead I am doing what I always do in restaurants....observe humanity.There used to be a restaurant called the "Copper Penny"at the corner of Sunset and Vine in Hollywood. I wish I had a penny for every minute me and crew sat there drinking coffee and watching the people of the night.
My waitress, who didn't take my hashbrowns, walks to the table and delivers a plate with more raw onions. I tried to mask my incredulity but failed. She smiled at me and said, 'More."
I realized we weren't communicating. The 'more' that was in my head, 'wasn't the 'more' that was in hers. The eggs, however, were perfect. One should take their victories where they are found.
In the background I heard,"George, that fresh coffee is almost ready." There was a cloud of smoke in the smoking section and I looked down at the two plates of raw onions. More...yes more than I wanted.
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