June | 2021 | JFM Creates

This piece is over 500 words

I’m Back home in the great state of Maryland. Really enjoyed my trip to the west coast to see my son Jamie, whom I haven’t seen in eight years. There were several very important added pleasures and must. I got to meet the set of grandkids I haven’t met yet – seven year old Vera and 18 month George. Also I was able to hug Jamie’s wife Reya again and meet her mother Julie. What a great vacation in Oregon.

I’m going to write several short stories about the trip that I think are mildly interesting. This short set of words are about hunting for a taste of Atlanta, GA.

In order to purchase fairly inexpensive round trip plane tickets I had to prepare and except certain itinerary changes up to point. On the way home I had a three hour layover in Atlanta. After adjusting my belt in a restroom I found my departure gate in concourse ‘A’, then set out to find a bite to eat. This airport was huge and had almost anything you wanted to eat, including many of America’s national chains. However, I decided I wanted a taste of Atlanta and asked a guy that worked there, where that could be found. He told about Pasqual’s.

He pointed and said, “Take that escalator down a level, get on the train and go to ‘E’.

I thought train, then said, “I don’t want to take my belt off again and go thru another security check point.”

He replied. “Oh, it’s not like that, you won’t leave the airport and you will enjoy their catfish.”

“Thanks man.” Then I headed for the escalator.

Once downstairs the train was on the right, but I decided to walk and get some steps in. I walked from ‘A’ to ‘C’ before I decided enough steps and take my chance on the train, which was an airport subway – pretty cool actually. I stepped off at ‘E’ and went up to the concourse. After walking around for a while I realized, as usual I need help. I went to the information desk and asked the ladies, “How can I use a Chevy alternator in a Ford.” They looked confused, then I said, “This is the information desk right?” Of course I forgot they couldn’t see my big grin with my mask on, but they got it anyway and we enjoyed a laugh. After that little interlude I asked, “Where is Pasqual’s?”

One of them looked it up, then pointed to another escalator and said, “Take that escalator down then get on the train to concourse ‘B’. I laughed to myself and gave them both my card, turned and left. I give my card out generously, trying to build my writing network. Now that I’m an old hat at the airport train I took it to Pasqual’s and had a really nice Catfish Meal.

I apologize for not taking a photo of my food or the restaurant. I got this photo off their website and it was taken by Daniel Klein in April of 2018.

My hat stories could be fact, fiction or a mix of both.

I started this story in 2019 and set it aside for a while, because I had writers block. The hat photo was taken by a fellow classmate at College of Southern Maryland (CSMD) during my Communication 1010 course, on November 26, 2019. I have an assortment of McDonald hats, since my name is McDonald.

Last week I went in one of my local McDonald’s, because I had a hankering for one of their new Bacon Big Mac’s. After I ordered my meal I noticed my server was wearing a new McDonald hat. I thought of my story category called, “How ya Like my Hat?” and asked if I could speak with the manager and when she came over I pulled out my wallet and showed her my driver’s license pointing to my last name – McDonald.

She said, “Oh”.

I told her, “I collect hats, especially McDonald hats.” I then pointed to my server and asked, “Can I get one like that”.

She replied, “Because of the M?”

Of course I said, “Yes”.

“Let me see.” She turned and went to the back of the store and returned with the hat I’m wearing in this photo.

“Thank you so much.” I adjusted the band, put it on, grabbed my food and walked out the door.

I immediately felt that something was wrong in my universe, but I had food so the universe had to take a back seat. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed north toward the CSMD La Plata campus for my Thursday afternoon Communications class. I noticed a car full people behind me wearing Burger King hats, but didn’t think much of it till they got real close and followed me down Mitchel Road toward the college.

I was a little concerned with my tailgater as I moved through the shady crooked Mitchel Rd., then I saw another car full of people behind them and they were wearing hats from Wendy’s. At this point my food took a back seat to the immediate threat of the hat brigade.

Luck has a way of finding me when I need it the most and as I was pulling in the campus parking lot I saw a large crowd of people. Everyone in this crowd was wearing CSMD hats – there were hundreds of my fellow Hawks (students) coming to my rescue. Somehow the universe let my friends know I was in trouble. When the Burger King and Wendy people saw this they turned and slipped quietly off the college grounds.

Of course with my plot thickening type of mind, I thought it was all about me. However, there was pep rally happening that very moment and I was the bearer of that good luck because of it.

Amazon author page, https://amazon.com/author/jimmcdonaldjr

Jim McDonald Writes, https://facebook.com/poetryandmorewords

Website – J F McDonald, https://jfmcdonaldjr.com