Yes, boy and girls, once upon a time in the Jurassic era when McDonald’s was an exciting new experience.
Allie is 20 feet ahead as we walk double-time to Doug’s car. He offers his hand and a wide smile. “You say it’s your birthday,” he sings tunelessly. “Old enough to ditch those little boy pants now!”
“Doug–LASS. You promised!!”
“Okay, okay. Settle down. We’re leaving.”
My head goes in her lap, laying my hand gently on her calf. As he drives, I kiss her knee with all the passion I can scrape together. She shivers once, strokes my hair.
We arrive in no time. Huge yellow arches rise dramatically as we approach. The place itself is dwarfed by them. Bright neon and benches out front for summer. Inside, all workers wear a uniform! The girls look okay, but some boys look inane with little paper hats tilting at bizarre angles.
The place is in ‘enemy territory’–one of two immense school districts bordering ours. This one, however, was more tolerant of our presence–they were not known for picking fights. They slaughtered us in football, we whipped them in b-ball.
It’s slightly busy. Allie nabs a booth, Doug and I order. He slips me a buck to pay for our burgers and shake. He gets a burger, soda, and a large order of French Fries to share. The kitchen area is buzzing, kids in constant motion–making food, cleaning, pouring drinks, bagging orders. Our order is ready unbelievably fast.
She and I huddle together, The milkshake has two straws; we can’t sip for giggling as we drink together.
Doug feigns disgust. “Oh Jesus, stop. You two are acting like two kids in a sitcom. Stop with the goo-goo eyes already!” He pushes the fries to us. We dig in, never tasted fries this good before–they’re not fat and crinkled, they’re thin!!
“And don’t you dare feed them to each other! Don’t embarrass me!”
Allie and I meet eyes. As if on cue, we throw a fry at him.
The three of us talk about nothing–the food, the weather, asshole teachers. I try to keep my composure; Allie is running her heel up and down my calf.
Someone once said, ‘How the hell can you possibly remember your first trip to McDonald’s?’ Well, now you know.