OUT OF THE FRY BASKET AND INTO THE FRYER!
Ever since working 5 minutes in the pool snack bar 30 years ago, I couldn’t wait to do it again. With the heat turned up thanks to the increased responsibility of an oil fryer and nacho cheese, I was nervous that I’d wind up ruining someone’s mouthwatering vision for their fries or taco boat. As a group, we did great! I learned things I always wanted to know, and some I didn’t, but I’m not going to spill the flavorful mystique of the League Snack Bar.
We received a reprieve as the last game was cancelled. After a thorough cleanup, I took my mustard-smeared, fry-smelly self to find solace in the bookstore. Knowing the kids would be showered and ready for bed on-time, to correct for the last two nights pressing bedtime boundaries, helped restore me. Wandering, I quickly picked a book for my son and carefully found a book with no visible dresses or pink for my daughter.
As I made it to Bestsellers, a text startled me, “Your son has a horror story to print out.” These words cause alarm because we don’t have a printer. We don’t have the surface or outlet space and rarely print, so we manage – if mentioned earlier in the evening. This time, it threatened the ideal bedtime.
I drove straight to Kinko’s texting the meeting place at each stoplight. No answer. I tried again, “Is there still typing to do?” No answer. I called, my heartbeat grew faster with every ring. Every minute counted and I didn’t want to waste any time. I felt momentarily relieved when they announced their departure.
With just enough time to get faster food than I’d wanted, I ate quickly anticipating a flurry of kids and printing! Still, nobody in sight! A rapid succession of texts delivered a punch “Lost his flash drive,” “Frantically searching.”
After giving up the search, I arrived home to find my son writing a new horror story about losing his flash drive, my daughter up past her bedtime, and me critiquing my fast food which pailed in comparison to the grilled burgers and seasoned crispy fries served at the snack bar.
Share your time management horror stories!
