There were times the Egg Nazi and I felt as though we were our patrons' confidants, psycho-therapist and bartender! As intoxicating as the finest wine is, a great cup of coffee, a rich bowl of ice cream with hot fudge or a small glass bottle of icy coke, allowed even the most introverted person the ability to speak up. Mostly these people are our friends. In retrospect, they also listened to our multitude of problems. Our sons admitting their lives and that of their parents, were open books. We listened to parents woes over their children: "was it normal behavior or did we think it a problem?" Perhaps we were the comfort needed at the moment. Mr. Bill often laughing, "Fred's News is the constant thing in many people's daily lives."
Remembering Maxie, our long time friend: Upon reading the front page of the Norwich Bulletin, we see an accident on I-395, one fatality, a local man, his son also transported to the local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Sometimes when you read something, your eyes glancing across the lines, what you see does not always register with your brain. Comprehending what we had just read, the Egg Nazi and I simply stared at each other. "Did I just read Maxie and his dad were in a car crash?" I questioned Mr. Bill, still looking at the headlines in dis-belief. "Yes, it happened yesterday, Maxie is okay, the fatality was his Dad!" Yesterday had been Max's birthday. Taking his Dad with him, they were heading to Mohegan Sun Casino. For years Max, Bill and I had always exchanged little gifts on our special day, yesterday had been no different. Such a feeling of despair came over me, Max loved his birthday, what had he done to deserve such a tragedy? A constant reminder of that unforgettable and horrific moment, would now make a yearly appearance,a wound that would never heal, Max would never have closure!
Delaval making his way to Fred's News that fateful morning, they had been classmates from kindergarten, their birthdays just a few months apart. Delaval always laughing and joking, "Max is much older than me." "Have you heard if he is okay, have you spoke with him?" he questioned. "No, we just found out!" As the day progressed, people having trouble inderstanding the scope of what they had heard and read, talked about it, laughed at Max stories, cried at the news and worried about their "restaurant friend."
Max was released from the hospital within a day, he had been wearing his seatbelt, sadly his father had not. Sam had been thrown from the vehicle, death was swift, he never knew what happened. Delaval, heading to Max's home, Max appreciative of the visit. We called Max, extended our sympathies not only from us, our family but our "restaurant friends" as well.
As the days passed, Max and his brother coping with the life changing tragedy, he returned to Fred's News, sharing he found comfort in the place surrounded by friends. Although Max never had a chance to tell his Dad, "goodbye" we learned, Max would cope, he would try to only remember "the good moments" of his youth, Dad and family. The lessons his father had taught, would carry him through, "he would still want me to enjoy my special day". Yes, Sam was that way. Max also knew his birthday would be special at Fred's News....something he looked forward to.
Remembering Maxie, our long time friend: Upon reading the front page of the Norwich Bulletin, we see an accident on I-395, one fatality, a local man, his son also transported to the local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Sometimes when you read something, your eyes glancing across the lines, what you see does not always register with your brain. Comprehending what we had just read, the Egg Nazi and I simply stared at each other. "Did I just read Maxie and his dad were in a car crash?" I questioned Mr. Bill, still looking at the headlines in dis-belief. "Yes, it happened yesterday, Maxie is okay, the fatality was his Dad!" Yesterday had been Max's birthday. Taking his Dad with him, they were heading to Mohegan Sun Casino. For years Max, Bill and I had always exchanged little gifts on our special day, yesterday had been no different. Such a feeling of despair came over me, Max loved his birthday, what had he done to deserve such a tragedy? A constant reminder of that unforgettable and horrific moment, would now make a yearly appearance,a wound that would never heal, Max would never have closure!
Delaval making his way to Fred's News that fateful morning, they had been classmates from kindergarten, their birthdays just a few months apart. Delaval always laughing and joking, "Max is much older than me." "Have you heard if he is okay, have you spoke with him?" he questioned. "No, we just found out!" As the day progressed, people having trouble inderstanding the scope of what they had heard and read, talked about it, laughed at Max stories, cried at the news and worried about their "restaurant friend."
Max was released from the hospital within a day, he had been wearing his seatbelt, sadly his father had not. Sam had been thrown from the vehicle, death was swift, he never knew what happened. Delaval, heading to Max's home, Max appreciative of the visit. We called Max, extended our sympathies not only from us, our family but our "restaurant friends" as well.
As the days passed, Max and his brother coping with the life changing tragedy, he returned to Fred's News, sharing he found comfort in the place surrounded by friends. Although Max never had a chance to tell his Dad, "goodbye" we learned, Max would cope, he would try to only remember "the good moments" of his youth, Dad and family. The lessons his father had taught, would carry him through, "he would still want me to enjoy my special day". Yes, Sam was that way. Max also knew his birthday would be special at Fred's News....something he looked forward to.
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