Early morning conversation at Fred's News, was at times, a chore: Diane..."Good Morning, how are you today?" Person standing at the end of the counter, only one eye open, no response. Diane..."Would you like your usual today?" Person now leaning against end of counter with only one eye open...other eye opens, this is the signal for a definite YES! Diane makes the coffee and questions, "Anything else today, maybe a muffin or a bagel?"(Always trying to upsell!) Person at the end of the counter stands up straight, we'll take that as an affirmative! So I wrap up a freshly baked cranberry muffin, put it in a bag with the coffee, hand to customer and cheerfully add, "Here ya go, have a great day!" Only a nod and grunt signify the transaction is complete, money left on the counter and off they go. OMG...they're driving! If by chance Bill and I had an unusual morning off, Baby Bear and Super Trooper Dave or Baby Bear and Bean (college room mate) would cover. Baby Bear's major complaint: "No one knows what the hell their usual is!" Early morning conversation at Fred's News, with Baby Bear and friends at the helm: Baby Bear..."Morning, what ya having?" Person at the end of the counter, only one eye open. no response. Baby Bear, a tad bit louder, "what are you gonna have?" Person now leaning on counter, contemplating making a decision at this God awful time of the morning, "give me what ever your mother makes me." Baby Bear under his breathe..."what the f#@&! He's not a morning person either.
As customers would arrive and sit in their usual spots at the counter or tables, conversations would become more upbeat and rowdy. Topics for the conversations usually depended on one of the following, a sporting event outcome, the weather, politics, Town events, gossip, (that was a big one!). If Doc was in the place and received a phone call(psychologist), was it from a jumper? That was along the lines of "dead baby jokes" first thing in the morning...not too nice! Perhaps there was new face, the need to ask many prying questions might decide the conversation starters. If a certain customer walked into the place to pick up a newspaper and looked like he had just rolled out of bed, Nelson might chirp.."Glad to see you could make it, Bill. Nice hairdo, is that just for us?" New customers would look mortified at the "insult" just thrown and regulars, well they just considered it another day and carried on with anything else on their minds. Frankie the mailman loved to laugh. Thank God it was an infectious laugh, it brought relief to the most uncomfortable moments. His motto...never trust anyone with a last name that ended in a vowel, they might be one of his "brothers". In February as the the first batch of income tax checks were being mailed, no one picked on Frankie the mail man...he might "loose" their check. That boy would just laugh!
Most of the early morning people were men. If a woman did stop in, it was usually on her way to work. Not to take sides, but I have to say, they were "together", hair combed, clothes neat, no open flies on their pants. That was my favorite, I was pretty good at telling someone to fix the problem! Most of the ladies were usually pretty cheery as compared to their counterparts. Mary, stopped by every morning to pick up her newspaper. She eventually became one of the regulars and could hold her own with the guys. They could be brutal, but Mary learned to become the "Queen of the comebacks!" Son of a bitch, that woman made me proud!
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