THE HUMAN TELEPHONE
Posted Friday, October 3rd, 2008 in Stories by Meebs(I wrote this story a few years ago during the Smarty Jones era.)
I was so hungry that I could eat a horse.
And not just any horse, either.
I was so hungry that I could eat recent Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones.
“Let’s see how Jones you are once you hit the deep-fry!” I quipped.
“I mean, smart.”
“Let’s see how smart you are.”
“Because your name is Smarty.”
“On second thought, I should’ve skipped the whole wordplay, and just gone with fast.”
“Let’s see how fast you are once you hit the deep-fry!” I quipped.
Actually, I hoped he was really fast once he hit the deep-fry.
I was as hungry as shit was smelly.
But there was one problem.
Where could I find a restaurant that served recent Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones?
After all, it was Sunday.
So, Chick-fil-A was closed.
I went into the kitchen and checked the phonebook.
But, I was quickly whistled for high-sticking.
After the resulting power play, I hopped into my car and drove to the local food court.
A Chinese BBQ joint called “the Pulled Panda” had recently opened for business.
Once there, I got into line.
The line didn’t seem to be moving at all.
I must’ve stood there for twenty minutes.
Finally, I realized that I was standing behind a row of trashcans.
“Are you guys in line or what?” I asked.
“Sorry,” said one of the trashcans. “We were just waiting for a friend. Go right ahead.”
I thanked them and moved to the front of the line.
Behind the register were two Chinese men.
They both appeared to be somewhere between the ages of 6 and 80.
Both of them stared directly at me as I approached.
“WELCOME TO PULLED PANDA,” said the cashier on the left. “YOU WANT ORDER?”
“Hi,” I said. “I was wondering if you guys served recent Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones?”
“PANDA?”
“No, he’s a horse.”
“CAT?”
“No… horse.”
“PANDA?”
“Horse, goddamn you!”
“YOU WANT ASK MANAGER?”
“Where can I find the manager?”
“HE RIGHT HERE,” he said, pointing to the man directly adjacent to him.
I stared at the manager who was still staring at me.
“Uh…” I said. “He’s been standing here the whole time. Why can’t he just answer my question now?”
“NO,” the cashier said. “HE LIKE TELEPHONE. HE NOT HEAR UNLESS YOU SPEAK TO HIM.”
“Sounds kinda like my wife!” I quipped.
(Man I loved quipping.)
“LESS QUIP, MORE ORDER CHINESE FOOD.”
Apologizing, I turned so that I was directly facing the manager.
“Hi,” I said. “I was wondering if—”
“BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!” interrupted the manager.
“SORRY,” the cashier explained. “MANAGER BUSY. COME BACK, THREE HOUR.”
“But…”
“PANDA?”
“Fuck it,” I said, sighing.
Once again, I found myself completely incapable of communicating with another human being.
Sure, I could’ve easily blamed the language barrier, or a simple difference in culture.
But, truth is, I had trouble getting anyone to understand me.
Even someone as close to me as my wife.
Even someone closer.
Such as that guy at the bus station who once asked me for a quarter.
Or my twin brother, whom I’d been conjoined with at the hip since birth.
As I was leaving the food court, I took one final glance at the Pulled Panda.
A recycling bin had joined the trashcans in line, and was now placing its order.
“I’d like an order of recent Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones,” it said.
“NINE DOLLAR,” the cashier replied.
I stared in disbelief as he stacked a plate full with sizzling horsemeat.
It smelled so good.
Like fried chicken.
Only faster.
THE END