More Than Waffles and Bacon by Sue DeCrescenzo

More Than Waffles and Bacon

by Sue DeCrescenzo

“Look what the cat dragged in.” Candy greeted Ellen with a warm smile. “Where is Hubby?” “Oh, he left early this morning with the guys to play a doubleheader of ‘Geezer Softball.’ He’s gone until early afternoon, so I’m treating myself to breakfast,” Ellen explained. As Ellen walked towards “her booth” she thought Waffle Hut, no matter which one you enter they look and smell the same. As you walk through the door, there’s that familiar greeting by the staff, the 1950 diner décor, red booths, and the smell, hmmm the smell of eggs, sausage, waffles, and hash browns sizzling on the grill. Candy said, “We’re glad you did. Oh shoot, I haven’t cleaned off your booth. I’m behind. Marlene had car trouble again.”

Ellen thought Candy looked a bit frazzled, and now she knew why. Since Candy was a kid, she had been a waitress in Waffle Huts all over the county. She settled on this one because she said, “I’m tired of moving.” The years weren’t kind to her face or her feet, but her smile was genuine. “No worries, Candy,” Ellen said. “I’ll sit at the counter next to Bubba. Move over you Old Coot.”

“Leave me alone, woman.” Bubba replied acting like he was mad, but he liked Ellen and was happy for her company. Bubba was a regular too.

Bubba grumbled, “I left my old lady at home for some peace and quiet, I don’t need your lip today, Ellen.” Bubba smiled as he made room for Ellen at the counter.

Bubba was born and raised in this town. He looked like a local with his baggy coveralls, sweat stained T-shirt and GA Bulldogs cap. You might not guess it, but he was a successful businessman, served on the city council for years, and once ran for mayor. Now retired, he chose to meet his “constituents” at the Waffle Hut counter.

“Trust me, Bubba your wife is enjoying every minute you’re gone too.” Ellen told Bubba as she playfully elbowed him and sat down. Ellen and her husband met Bubba the first time they came to the Waffle Hut. They had just moved into town from up north. They felt like foreigners in this southern town, but they wanted to connect with the locals. Sparing with a former city councilman was something Ellen and her husband looked forward to every time they came to Waffle Hut.

Ellen stated, “Isn’t it quiet in here today, Bubba? Did you run everyone off?” Ellen whispered, “I see Joe over there enjoying his waffles and bacon, but I’ve never seen that guy before. He looks nervous.”

The new customer in his mid to late thirties was wearing jeans, T-shirt and hoodie. His baseball cap didn’t show any allegiance to a team, but Nervous Guy pulled it down low on his forehead. Ellen thought, it’s as if he’s trying to hide or disguise his face. Just then Nervous Guy held up his coffee cup, motioned to Candy, “More coffee, please.” Candy replied, “I’m on my way.” After Ellen and Bubba traded a few more barbs, Ellen stated, “I’ll have the usual, Candy, except I’ll have rye instead of wheat toast.” Bubba said, “Living on the edge today, Ellen?” Just then, a guy came in carrying a heavy duffle bag and he slid into the booth with Nervous Guy. This guy looked rough around the edges, with tats and a nose ring. Candy walked over to their booth and said, “What can I get you?” The guy carrying the duffle bag said, “Just coffee, I’m in a hurry.” Ellen looked at Bubba with a raised eyebrow; and whispered, “He looks shifty.” Bubba shrugged and said, “Anyone looks shifty at the Waffle Hut this early in the morning, even you Ellen.” Bubba lied. Ellen always dressed appropriately in slacks, a blouse, and a cardigan sweater. Bubba thought she looked like everyone’s favorite grandma. In no time at all, their orders arrived, and Bubba and Ellen ate their breakfast arguing about city politics and ignored Nervous Guy and Shifty. “We’ll never agree on how to run this town, Ellen.” Bubba stated.

“You’re right, Bubba. And that’s because you’re wrong and I’m right. I’m just surprised after all this time you haven’t figured that out.” Ellen concluded. Bubba smiled and said, “Give it up, Ellen. You know I’m right. You just hate to admit it.” The tit for tat continued until they finished their breakfast. Cindy appeared just as they slid their plates towards the edge of the counter. Ellen raised her empty coffee cup and Cindy refilled it. The restaurant was getting busier, so Bubba and Ellen asked Cindy for their checks. “Are you buying, Bubba?” Ellen asked. “No Ellen, it’s your turn.” Bubba retorted. “It’s always my turn, Bubba.” Ellen said. Just then, Nervous and Shifty Guys said, “Checks, please.” Shifty threw a few bucks down on the table and left. Nervous Guy slung the heavy duffle bag over his shoulder, paid at the counter, grumbled thank you; then left. Ellen whispered to Bubba, “Looks like Shifty Guy handed off that duffle bag to Nervous Guy.” Bubba agreed and said “hmmm, curious, very curious.”

Ellen and Bubba paid and tipped Candy generously. Candy said, “Have a great day, Ellen. And Bubba you behave.”

Candy said, “It’s been at least a month, so good to see you Ellen, and I see you brought your, handsome Hubby this time. Hey Bob. We thought you didn’t love us anymore.” Bob’s red hair was white, and so was his mustache and eyebrows. In his day, those blue eyes could have melted a few hearts. Now his heart belonged to Ellen. Bob said, “You know I love you ladies. I was playing softball and got behind with the chores at home. Got to keep my bride happy too, right Ellen? This morning, I said, I have a craving for waffles and bacon, so here we are. Hey Marlene, nice to see you too.” Bob waved across the counter.

Candy and Marlene both smiled, Bob and Ellen were some of their favorite regulars. They always acted like newlyweds and didn’t have a cross word for anyone. Candy grabbed a fresh pot of coffee, cups, and extra cream, put it on their table; then held up her pad ready to take their orders.

“Hey, Candy, Ellen leaned across the table and whispered, did our friends Shifty and Nervous Guy come back?” Candy leaned in and replied, “They come in once a week, do the duffle bag shuffle and leave. When Nervous Guy pays, he leaves a big tip. Last week, he must have sensed I was going to say something because Nervous Guy slipped a napkin under his tip that said, Keep Your Mouth Shut!”

Ellen, whispered, “What the heck is going on, Candy?” Bob looked at his wife shaking his head and said, “Keep out of this you two. It doesn’t sound like you want to mess with these guys.” Candy nodded in agreement and said, “Now, what can I get you two for breakfast?” As if on cue, Nervous Guy arrived and sat in his corner booth. He ordered breakfast and thumbed through an old copy of the local newspaper. Twenty minutes went by and Shifty Guy arrived. He slid the duffle bag under the table so Nervous Guy could easily reach it. Bob and Ellen ordered; then ate while they chatted about their day. Ellen tried not to stare, but she kept a wary eye on Shifty and Nervous Guys. In no time at all, Bob pushed his empty plate away and said, “That was good.” Ellen agreed and said, “We should go.” “Candy, check please, Ellen announced. We’re on our way to the grocery store before it gets too crowded.”

Ellen turned to Bob and said, “While you pay, I need to use the lady’s room.” As Ellen got up, Nervous Guy and his newly acquired duffle bag almost knocked her over. Ellen muttered, “I’m sorry.” Nervous Guy leaned close to Ellen and said, “Not as sorry as you’ll be if you say anything, understand?”

Ellen, turned to Bob at the register and said, in a panic, “Let’s go, honey!” Bob said, “I thought you had to go to the bathroom?”

Ellen said, emphatically, “Let’s go!” Bob shrugged and said to Cindy. “I guess we’re going.” In the car, Ellen told Bob what Nervous Guy said to her.

Bob said, “That’s it, I don’t care what Nervous Guy said, when we get home, I’m calling the cops.” Candy watched from behind the counter. After 20 years of waiting on customers, she saw the look in Ellen’s eyes too and recognized fear when she saw it. She said to herself, enough is enough. As soon as Nervous Guy leaves, I’m calling the cops.

The next morning Bob said to Ellen, “Are you OK, honey? Did you get any sleep?” “A little, Ellen said, I focused on the fact that the officers said they would be over this morning to take my statement. That made me feel better and I slept a few hours.” “Ah, the doorbell, Ellen exclaimed, I’ll get it.” Bob wasn’t far behind.

Ellen and Bob ushered two officers to the living room. They were dressed in full uniform and their hats at first shielded their faces.

“Good Morning, Officers. Ellen stammered, “Marlene, I thought you were a waitress? And Nervous Guy, I mean you’re the guy who threatened me and Candy at the Waffle Hut? What’s going on?” “Sorry to scare you, but I didn’t want you two ladies to blow our cover. I’m Detective Sommers, aka Nervous Guy and this is my partner, Detective Janet Milton aka, Marlene. I thought if I scared you, you wouldn’t do anything, but Candy called us too.” “Can you blame us?” Ellen said. “No, and we’re glad you did, Detective Sommers continued. We appreciate it when you see something suspicious, you say something. If it weren’t for good citizens like you, our job would be even more difficult. However, our intention was to buy time until we could build our case, not scare you.” Ellen asked, “And did it help?” “Yes, tomorrow, you’ll hear all about it in the news. Detective Sommers added. “I can’t go into too much detail, but we caught a ring of drug dealers running a multi-million-dollar operation from here to Atlanta. And the guy who met me at the Waffle Hut was the bagman –his responsibility was to get, disguise, or launder the money. Due to some excellent undercover work, we heard that this ring was looking for someone. After we completed several deals with him, we arrested him; then offered him immunity if he helped us catch the leader. And we did.” Bob and Ellen looked at each other and sighed realizing how close they’d come to some dangerous people. Detective Milton concluded, “Don’t worry, that’s why I was working as a waitress. If we felt that the staff or the customers were in any danger, we would have ended the sting. And by the way, Waffle Hut management was aware, and we just filled in Candy too.” They shook the Detectives’ hands, thanked them for their service; then Bob walked them out.

When Bob came back into the living room, Ellen was sitting on the sofa. Bob sat down beside her, put his arm around her and said, “Honey, looks like you and Candy helped bring down the bad guys.” Ellen replied, “I know and I’m proud of that, but from now on, I think we’re eating at the Pancake House.”

When I was a kid, I told stories to entertain my younger siblings. Their favorite was “Peter the Garbage Man.” Time marched on. I completed a BA in Journalism from the U of IA and a MS in Management from Antioch New England. Professionally, I wrote operators manuals for heavy machinery, farm equipment, and computers. I ended my

career in customer service. All this was a far cry from stories of Peter the Garbage Man –or was it? And now I’m happily retired, living in GA with my hubby and our newly adopted dog Zoey. And these are my stories………