Working at Munchers Bakery in Lawrence, Kansas, I see a lot of interesting people: travelers, regulars, families, friends, strange folk. When I get the chance I try to ask them two questions: "How was your morning?" and "What are you doing today?". Here were some of my favorite customers from the weekend of Feb. 10:
The Recovering: After a recent bout of flu, the man had lost some weight. “I’m planning on gaining it back today,” he said as he held up his box of donuts.
The Spider-Killer: As the dad ordered, his young daughter chatted with me, her words tripping over themselves in excitement. “My dad killed the spider!” she said. “That’s what dads are for,” he said, smiling at her.
The Regretful: He had just gotten a speeding ticket. “I should have had these donuts earlier,” he said. “Maybe I got have bribed the officer.”
The Chicken Little: Just a little human in a chicken little hat.
The Best Customer: The man was conflicted about which donut to get and he finally decided on a chocolate filled long john. He was getting his hair cut in a couple of hours and the donut was for his barber.
The Weak of Heart: He ordered a large decaffeinated coffee. “Black and weak,” he said. “Just like my heart.”
The Machine Operator: He was picking up some donuts before he went into work. The man had been working as a machine operator for the past 29 years and he only hoped that one day he could leave on his own terms.
The Waitress: She was a waitress at the Global Cafe. We compared wake-up times for our morning jobs and talked a little bit about food. Her favorite item at the Global Cafe is the green chili bowl.
The Ambulance Driver: The man was an ambulance driver and he had just gotten off work. With the slick roads it had gotten busier so he was just happy to get some rest.
The Flash: A little boy dressed in a Flash onesie.
The Puzzled: The kid struggled through a 12-sided Rubik’s Cube as his parents order.
The Weirdo: The two brothers walked in --- young, blonde and full of excited energy. Their mom -who had green hair with shaved sides-- tried to keep them in check. “Be nice to the Keeper of Donuts,” she said. As I packaged their order, the mom said, "Stop rubbing your butt against me you weirdo."
The Essayist: The college student had just finished up an essay on Toni Morrison’s book “Beloved.” She highly recommends it.
Disclaimer: All quotes and experiences are recalled from memory so they may not be 100 percent accurate. Many of these encounters are brief, representing just a fraction of each person's story.