The new Charlie

A few of my college years were spent living at The Six with my roommates Cheech and Chong and Les. Our house was conveniently located right across the street from an Open Pantry. There was this 50-something year old guy who worked the counter on the weekend named Charlie. He was the most cheerful cashier in the history of Convenience Store workers. Regardless of the size of your purchase, he would always offer you a bag with unmatched enthusiasm. Even if your order was as small as a pair of Twinkies, you were compelled to have him put it into bag for you. He’d also give you back your change with incredible zest. “Fifty-three cents is your change. Have a grrreat day!’

Lucky for me, I’ve found myself a new Charlie. There’s this guy who works at a Subway that I frequent regularly near my house. He’s Charlie times ten. The guy seems to get excited about making sandwiches. I kid you not. I thought it was a put on at first. Maybe the guy is just so bored by his job that he hams it up just to amuse himself, but that’s not it. I’ve been in there more than a dozen times. He’s serious. He asks me if I’d like my bun toasted just like Charlie asked about the bags. I can’t refuse. When I ask for things for him to put on the sandwich, his responses range from “I can certainly do that for you!!’ to “Absolutely! You got it!”. If any of you are in my neighborhood around dinner time, you have to let me take you there. He’s something.

Posted by chuck at February 2, 2006 2:05 AM

Comments

You know what would be fun? I could swing by OP and pick up Charlie, then take him over to that Subway and watch him order a sandwich from your new buddy. It could be dangerous - I don’t know if the universe can handle that much kindness in such close proximity. It could be like a Star Trek matter/anti-matter type of thing. I’d have to proceed with caution.

Posted by: Les at February 2, 2006 11:29 AM

There was a subway worker at Oakland and Locust that I used to go to all the time who seemed to be so disgruntled (Or OCD) that he was fired up to make the sandwiches as quickly and efficiently as possible. Janell used to live at Murray and Locust so I’d always be there, the guy was nuts.

It’s almost as if a gun was on him via security camera and that if he didn’t turn around 75 sandwiches an hour they were going to kill him.

You should see if he’s still there, he’s a beni-hana level subway sandwich artist.

Posted by: Andy at February 2, 2006 11:39 AM

The guy who owned the Subway on Oakland and Locust was big coke head. I briefly worked at his West Bend store and he was so messed up and running around all the time. Don’t mistake being loaded up with meth for enthusiasm for ones job.

I also live next to that OP. A girl named Bunnykins worked there and she’d always force me to smile. It made me so angry because she was just bored and sarcastic. Eventually I would just make sure I smiled so she wouldn’t pick me out to be obnoxiously nice to. It was an emotionally abusive relationship in a way. I’m doing better now though.

Posted by: Jeremy at February 2, 2006 2:41 PM