The Scene: The IHOP Restaurant, 3796 Alpine Ave. NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321
The Position: Corner booth adjacent to the smoking section
On the Table: A menu, decaf coffee pot, several pancake toppings (boysenberry, blueberry, butter pecan, and strawberry), as well as the usual assortment of sugar, salt, and pepper
On the Radio: "Slow Down, Take it Easy" (?), presumably by a band something like AC/DC or Led Zeppelin
4:10pm -- I had come to the restaurant to work on an article for the first issue of Redeemer's student newspaper, The Crown. My girlfriend was to work the 4-9pm shift, though she doubted she would work the full hours, as Monday's prove to be slow. I decided, that in addition to writing the article, I'd simultaneously do a little sociological study (at least, I guess that's what you'd call it), and write a short story for pleasure. My idea was to sit here and look busy, but at the same time listen in on random conversations to see what kind of things people say, or just observe what they do. At this point, there is only one table near me with people in it, African-American fellow with two little kids deciding on what they should eat. "Look at me, and tell me what you want. Do you want fries?" The little boy whimpers and doesn't give a straight answer. Meanwhile the little girl continuously ducks under the table to look for something, presumably a dropped crayon.
4:29pm -- The little African-American boy is crying as his father gets them up to leave. "I don't want these shoes!" He had taken off his shoes earlier I assume, and it must have been out of disgust, though they looked half-decent to me.
4:34pm -- I was just informed that there is a group of three boys in the corner of the smoking section who are attempting to set a world record for watching TV the longest in a restaurant. They are trying for three days of straight watching (good thing IHOP is a 24-hour restaurant). They have 2 days, 22 hours and 25 minutes remaining.
4:47pm -- An employee of the restaurant, just starting his shift, asked me if I was part of the group of boys watching TV. I replied no, and he answered me with, "Oh, so just chillin'." Yep, just chillin.
5:09pm -- An older couple just came in. The waitress took their order, and she told them what type of vegetables they had once the couple had asked. At this point, the old woman proceeded to give the waitress a run-down on why she couldn't eat certain type of vegetables. Then she explained how her hashbrowns had to be done to a very specific shade of brown. The waitress must have been standing there for ten minutes. But hey, I guess if you can only eat things certain ways, they ought to know it.
5:56pm -- Just finished my dinner. The IHOP burger with bacon and cheese is highly recommended. The restaurant is quite a bit busier now, and I have one group of three women sitting at the table just across from me. It's behind a divider, but I can probably still hear them. Most of the people coming in are asking about the boys in the corner watching TV, and many either grin or chuckle when they hear about their record-breaking attempt.
6:11pm -- Why do three women together always equal lots of laughing? What do they talk about? They're not talking loud enough for me to hear them.
6:38pm -- The boys watching TV continue to do so, but beneath their countdown clock, they have written, "Screw the Germans, and ummm…please give us your money." I noticed they were watching the Olympics. 2 days, 20 hours, and 22 minutes remaining.
6:53pm -- A new couple coming in has just asked about what the boys in the corner are doing, and when they were told, the man broke into rather loud fits of seemingly uncontrollable laughter. A little annoying. Apparently the boys get 20% discount on food.
7:02pm -- Okay, this experiment has worn out its fun. I'm calling it quits here. I'm obviously not meant to be a sociologist, even though I do enjoy watching people, but not if I have to make notes on it. Plus the waitresses aren't sitting anyone near me. And there still can't be more than 20 people in here. So this is it. Thanks for visiting IHOP.
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