“Yes, this is Goodburger Diner,” Alex responded, not quite certain what the creature wanted.
The burger shook its hands from side to side, which Alex immediately understood as meaning that this was not the answer the burger had wanted. He felt silly even trying to have a conversation with this thing and hoped this was just a hallucination that would fade away. Alex tried again. “Okay, is there something I can do for you?”
The burger bobbed up and down again on its legs, dramatically stretched out its long arm, and deliberately tapped the “Now Hiring” portion of the sign with its pointed glove.
“Now hiring?” Alex asked. “You want to know about our sign for hiring?”
The burger gave two thumbs up and bobbed excitedly up and down. Alex understood that this was clearly the burger’s way of responding affirmatively.
“You want a job?” Alex asked, stunned that this was actually happening. The burger again gave two thumbs up and bobbed. “Well,” Alex started, stunned that the burger-being was actually asking about employment, “I don’t think we’re actually…hiring…uh, burgers right now.”
The burger emphatically placed its gloved hands on its bottom bun at its sides and tapped a foot in impatience. Repeating its dramatic gestures, it deliberately pointed at each word on the marquee sign as its finger traced over “Now,” “Hiring,” “Burger,” and “$4.99.”
Alex started to understand what this creature was trying to say. “I see, but I’m sorry…I don’t think my uncle is interested in hiring…anyone…right now.” The burger again put its hands on its bottom bun, making Alex feel as if he needed to provide a better explanation. “Well, you see, a couple weeks ago we had a couple staff members quit, so we had to hire some new workers. But I don’t think my uncle wants to hire anyone else right now…he already replaced those workers that quit, and we just forgot that the sign still said ‘Now Hiring’ and forgot to take it down. I’m sorry.”
The burger stood there with its hands still on its lower bun and tapping its foot. After several silent seconds, it again pointed to each word on the marquee sign in a continuous pattern, repeatedly pointing at “Now,” “Hiring,” “Burger.”
Alex could see he wasn’t succeeding at making his point to the burger-being. He thought maybe if he changed the subject he’d get somewhere. At that moment his uncle provided a break in the conversation by abruptly rushing out of the restaurant’s front door. “Alex,” his uncle started, “why aren’t you done sweeping outside yet, we’re getting ready to open and you haven’t begun setting the tables inside.”
“Sorry, Uncle Bud,” Alex replied nervously. He wasn’t quite sure how to explain the situation. “I was just…well, I was almost…”
Alex’s stammering was interrupted by his uncle. “Who’s your friend, and why’s he in the burger outfit?” Alex noticed Bud’s eyes get wide when he saw the burger being standing next to the sign. He was uncertain how to even respond to his questions; he didn’t have an explanation at this point himself.
“Um, he’s…this is…”
“Forget it, Alex, we don’t have time for you to chit chat with friends. Finish your sweeping and get to work inside,” Uncle Bud replied, and with that he turned once more to look at the burger being. “Nice outfit, kid,” he remarked before quickly rushing back into the restaurant.
Alex turned to look again at the burger. “Look, I’ve got to go inside and get back to work.”
The burger scratched its top bun with its gloved hand and tapped its foot again. After shrugging its shoulders, it tapped the marquee sign one more time.
Alex sighed. “I’m sorry, I wish I could help, but you heard my uncle. I’ve got to go inside. Sorry.”Alex took his broom and turned to open the front door. Just before he entered the restaurant, he glanced back to notice the burger being one more time. The burger remained next to the marquee sign, a sad picture of unrestricted persistence that Alex realized he pitied inside, and he truly wished he could help him in some way. But for now, he had work to do, and so he let the door close behind him.
...to be continued
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