Riding with Fried Chicken

Young John Waldenthrottle rode his J.C. Higgins ten-speed bicycle over to the service station one evening, pulled up to the window and asked the middle-aged woman behind the counter for a can of transmission fluid.

The clerk, Vera Simons, leaned out of her window a little bit in order to see over the counter,  glanced down at young John Waldenthrottle’s mode of transportation and thought it would be absolutely hilarious to say, “So, your bike runnin’ a little low is it?” Then she just started laughing her head off.

Young John stood there for a few seconds, watching her, and then said, “I don’t get it."

Vera began to regain her composure then she replied, “You’re on a bicycle. You asked for transmission fluid. I was making a joke."

As Young John Waldenthrottle was giving Vera a somewhat perplexed look, a seven foot tall Cyclops with a duck on his shoulder walked up to the window, shoved young John and his bicycle aside and said, “Excuse me ma’am, I’m in desperate need of a can of transmission fluid. Hurry please.”

Vera leaned forward again, then peered up towards the Cyclops with the duck on his shoulder and once more thought it would be absolutely hilarious to say, “So, your duck running a little low is it?”

The Cyclops just stared at Vera for a few seconds and then said, “I don’t get it."

“You’ve got a duck on your shoulder. I was making a joke,” she replied and then started in again with the cackling - only this time, it was accompanied with slapping the palm of her hand on her thigh several times.

The Cyclops was giving Vera a somewhat perplexed look when young John tapped him on the elbow, looked up at him and said, “I’m sorry sir but I believe I was here before you.”

“Well make it quick then. I’m in a hurry and it looked like to me you were just standing there with a perplexed look on your face,” replied the Cyclops. Then he stepped back to allow young John to once again approach the window.”

As Vera was still chuckling to herself about her witty comebacks, she placed a can of transmission fluid on the counter and scooted it toward Young John Waldenthrottle and announced, “That’ll be eight dollars and fifty-five cents.”

Young John handed her a ten. After she finished counting out his change she looked up at the Cyclops and added, “That also just happens to be my last can of transmission fluid.”

The Cyclops stood there with his mouth hanging open and that same old perplexed look on his face. The duck on his shoulder was looking pretty pitiful also.

Young John Waldenthrottle got back on his J.C. Higgins ten-speed special, made a complete loop around the gas pump island and then, as he passed back by the window, he tossed the can of transmission fluid over to the Cyclops. He rode across the street and down the block to the Chicken Shack, picked up an order for some crispy fried chicken at the drive up window and then headed home.

Enjoy the Ride!


(Next Chapter)