Darvin's Surprise Birthday Party
Do you remember the TV show Cheers with Ted Danson and Kirstie Alley? The place where everyone knows your name? My local diner is the non-alcoholic version of Cheers in my hometown. When I come in the door, just like Cliff Claven's fan club, everyone says, "Hey, Traci." I love it!
I have an in, however. My neighbor and best friend Marla is the head cook. Bernie and Theresa are usually the waitresses on any given weekday, both great ladies. Marla can be found in the back with her son Joe, teaching him the trade of cooking for the masses. Even Marla's mother-in-law works at the diner at the ripe old age of...75 or 80 doing dishes. Grandson Joe helps her lift the heavy stuff. Dorothy says, "I'm just working for drug money." Which, given hers and her husband's health, isn't too far from the truth.
Then there's Darvin, the owner and restaurant butterfly. He floats from table to table, greeting patrons, telling the latest joke he heard or that a friend sent via the internet. He'll give you an update on his grandson's doings--all you need do is ask. Darvin is on the city council; he can be found at ballgames in police uniform for volunteer duty (the game is free this way!); he's on the ambulance crew, owns a tanning salon down the hall in the mall and if that isn't enough he decided he needed to get some exercise so he took on a morning paper route!
A few years back, the crew at the diner decide to throw Darvin a birthday party. Seems simple enough. But these folks are creative.
In the basement of our mall is a large reception room that Darvin rents out for parties that he also caters. When he got back from one of his ambulance runs Marla told him a woman had called wanting to throw a big party on such and such a date (that happened to be Darvin's birthday). He complained but all of his staff claimed they had prior plans. Not one to pass up the opportunity of extra cash, Darvin still took the gig.
Amazingly the woman never called while Darvin was at the restaurant. He'd be at the nursery school delivering their daily lunch to the preschoolers, or on the air with KRBI (the local radio station) to give them the daily lunch specials, usually accompanied by a story or two. If there's one thing Darvin is it's a story teller. Darvin was puzzled about this mystery woman. He thought he knew everyone in town, but he'd never heard of her. Still, he ordered and prepared the food, got the room ready. All by himself, mind you, because the staff was previously occupied.
When the time came for the party Darvin was exhausted and none too happy to be working solo. You can imagine his surprise when he discovered that the party was for him! Not only had he done all the work, he footed the bill! It's still a sore spot for the guy--so don't tell him I told you this story!
Poor Darvin. We love him though.
More later,Traci
I have an in, however. My neighbor and best friend Marla is the head cook. Bernie and Theresa are usually the waitresses on any given weekday, both great ladies. Marla can be found in the back with her son Joe, teaching him the trade of cooking for the masses. Even Marla's mother-in-law works at the diner at the ripe old age of...75 or 80 doing dishes. Grandson Joe helps her lift the heavy stuff. Dorothy says, "I'm just working for drug money." Which, given hers and her husband's health, isn't too far from the truth.
Then there's Darvin, the owner and restaurant butterfly. He floats from table to table, greeting patrons, telling the latest joke he heard or that a friend sent via the internet. He'll give you an update on his grandson's doings--all you need do is ask. Darvin is on the city council; he can be found at ballgames in police uniform for volunteer duty (the game is free this way!); he's on the ambulance crew, owns a tanning salon down the hall in the mall and if that isn't enough he decided he needed to get some exercise so he took on a morning paper route!
A few years back, the crew at the diner decide to throw Darvin a birthday party. Seems simple enough. But these folks are creative.
In the basement of our mall is a large reception room that Darvin rents out for parties that he also caters. When he got back from one of his ambulance runs Marla told him a woman had called wanting to throw a big party on such and such a date (that happened to be Darvin's birthday). He complained but all of his staff claimed they had prior plans. Not one to pass up the opportunity of extra cash, Darvin still took the gig.
Amazingly the woman never called while Darvin was at the restaurant. He'd be at the nursery school delivering their daily lunch to the preschoolers, or on the air with KRBI (the local radio station) to give them the daily lunch specials, usually accompanied by a story or two. If there's one thing Darvin is it's a story teller. Darvin was puzzled about this mystery woman. He thought he knew everyone in town, but he'd never heard of her. Still, he ordered and prepared the food, got the room ready. All by himself, mind you, because the staff was previously occupied.
When the time came for the party Darvin was exhausted and none too happy to be working solo. You can imagine his surprise when he discovered that the party was for him! Not only had he done all the work, he footed the bill! It's still a sore spot for the guy--so don't tell him I told you this story!
Poor Darvin. We love him though.
More later,Traci
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