In my dream, a friend and I are hiking and just come to a small town. We decide to stop and get some lunch and we spot a small restaurant ahead of us. It's a tidy looking building covered in yellow shingles.
We walk inside. The walls are also yellow, with brown wooden benches and tables. It's all quite neat and inviting. Signs of a well run establishment. There are no other customers -- either in line or sitting at a table.
Somehow or other, we know that the restaurant prides itself on its fried chicken.
We notice that there are no printed menus. And there is a sign over the counter that should have contained choices for a meal, but it doesn't really convey any information. We mention this to the lady behind the counter and she directs us to another wall that has a reasonably complete display of choices of food and beverage. But nowhere on the list does it list fried chicken.
We bring this to the lady's attention. There is also a man behind the counter, and it seems likely that they are husband and wife. The two of them start explaining why the menu situation is what it is, and we're ready to accept what they say even though I don't understand the situation.
As we consider what to order, the guy behind the counter asks us if we want to have the pressure in the tires on our car checked. We look at each other, puzzled and say "No thanks." The two of them start to lecture us about the importance of having the proper pressure in the tires -- in terms of tire wear and safety. They then ask about whether we'd like other services (which I simply don't remember) -- none of which has anything to do with food. We continue to say "Thanks but no thanks. We just want to get something to eat."
They assure us they know what we'd like to eat and would be happy to prepare that for us. So this may be fried chicken or not, but if it's what they want to prepare, that's fine by us. We find a table at which to sit and wait for a while for our food to show up.
Shortly after we sit, more people show up and pretty soon, the small restaurant is completely filled with people. Folks are standing and folks are sitting and many of the folks are eating food that obviously the restaurant has prepared for them. We still haven't got our food.
I look over at the couple and shrug as if to say: "When are we getting our meals?" They look at us and bob their heads as if to say: "Yes, we understand your concern and are working towards getting your meal ready." This happens several times.
I tell them "We'd like to get our food, please, and any more nonsense from you and we're simply walking out." They get the message and get back to work preparing these other meals for other people.
Finally the restaurant empties of all the other customers -- except us. We continue to sit at our table, but begin to understand that we're simply not going to be fed.
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