Gracefully Growing Old at KFC

Master Po wake up this morning and blow nose in tissue and pull muscle in rib area. He spend rest of day as sore as man pulling rickshaw while running in Beijing Marathon.


Later he and honorable Mrs. Po head to Richland to visit Mrs. Po's mom. On way home we get bright idea to go thru take-out window and buy fried chicken to take home for supper.
Line at KFC very packed. It look like owners of giant pandas, lined up in rickshaws, at bamboo store, where big sale going on.

Master Po concentrating to keep close to car in front of us because he think of others behind him, and not want to keep line from emptying out to adjacent parking lot. Master Po always thoughtful like that when it comes to feelings of others and he always very sensitive to their needs. Soooo, I keep very close to car in front of ours.


Master Po concentrate so hard on car in front of us, that he pass up ordering box. Mrs. Po yell, "You just passed up the ordering box!" Mrs. Po speak in English - she not talk like Master Po, where he learn language from other monks in Kung Fu Monastery.


Always alert, I look in rear-view mirror before I back up, and sure enough, ALL vehicles are packed too close for me to go backwards. So I have to wind window down and request man in white van, behind us, to back up. Before he can back up, he wind his window down to man behind him, and so on and so on. This chain reaction continue whole way back to parking lot that Master Po was worried about earlier in story.  And it take much time, too. 


I briefly look back to line shaped like giant horse shoe and notice some drivers very upset with Master Po. Other drivers are laughing hysterically at me, too. Good thing most windows in their cars are now up, or I am sure I would be getting cursed at by many mad patrons.


Finally, I get back to ordering box, and lady say, "Do you want to try today's family bucket meal with muffins?"


Now remember, Master Po not in good mood because of problems involving ordering box and crowded line. So, he snap back, "NO, I DON'T WANT ANY MUFFINS, AND I NEVER SAID THAT I WANTED MUFFINS." I then place order and the shocked lady say move up to next window and pay and pick up chicken. Good thing now, is there IS NO LINE in front of us. Cars long gone past pick-up window while Master Po was trying to back up and place order.


Mrs. Po not happy that I snap out on innocent worker, and she warn, "You better be careful she doesn't spit in your chicken."

Because I worry about Covid Virus and potential saliva revenge, I get to pick-up window and ask if she the same lady that took my order. She say yes, and I try to apologize to her. She not seem receptive to my attempt though. She roughly hand bag to us, and fries spill out inside bag.  Master Po get slight impression she not happy. 


When we got home and take out dinner, I not see any spit on chicken, fries or coleslaw, but I notice only 7 pieces of chicken in bucket that was supposed to have 8 pieces.


Lady there, probably laughing as she eat free piece of chicken, and it be a breast piece no-less, Master Po's favorite piece.


Master Po never to old to learn lesson. No matter how hungry you are, never worry about line behind you. AND stay away from KFC during pandemic.  Go to Chinese restaurant, instead. 


The End.

My Roots - The Potchaks - circa 1927

My Roots - The Potchaks - circa 1927
From Left: Son, Steve - Dad, Frank - Mom, Anastasia (Makar) - Sons; John, Mike, Frank, Chuck (Author's Dad) - Twins, Pete & Mary - Daughter, Catherine. Photo taken in Wilmore, PA