The
Park & Eat
by
Betty Boellner- Jones
Out
south on Atkinson sat a whitewashed little structure dwarfed
by a huge red and orange neon sign, the "Park &
Eat." It was there you parked, hopefully in front,
where you could see and be seen in a surrounding circle
of gravel and dust. Where the carhops always seemed to
be from out of town, where Hank Williams', "Your
Cheatin' Heart" wailed from the jukebox, ever louder
above the car horns of the hungry.
On a school night when
9 o'clock was heading home time, it took a lot of skillful
convincing on your part to extract the family car from suspicious
parents. "Oh, I left my English book over Eleanor's house
and I've got homework for tomorrow. Can I have the car? Maybe
pick some of the gang and go for a coke? I won't be gone long,
okay?"
Just long enough to round
up the hopefuls, drag Main on the way, and head for the "Park
& Eat. It just might be your night. HE might be there.
You arrive in a cloud of dust and crunching gravel,-- there's
a spot in front. It is going to be your night, you can just
feel it.
Oh, no- he's getting in
the car with that flirty sophomore, what does he see in her?
And they're climbing in the backseat? It's too much to bear.
What do I want to order? Who can think about food right now?
Guess it didn't take,-- he's getting out of the car, talking
to the letter-sweater group.
Wave at them, just don't
honk the horn and provoke the carhop again. Food has arrived,
the guys will be angling over this way for sure now. It's
that breathless moment- shut up everyone so I can hear what
he's saying. Just, "Hi," and that's all?
He's leaning in the window
-say it! Just say it! "What are you doing Friday night"
Les Paul and Mary Ford's "Tiger Rag" is blaring,
"Hold That Tiger -- Hold That Tiger,"-- he's smiling
at you now -- "Want some french fries?" A voice
from the backseat -- who ordered those fries anyhow?
Cars are pulling out and
circling now -- have we been here that long? "I'll see
you at school tomorrow," he says. Those giggling sophomores
just drove by and honked again. Time to head home. The first
of the drop-offs are gone -- time to plan tomorrow's strategy.
I can do my homework on the way to school. And see HIM –
See you at the Park &
Eat.