Nathans: The hangout for the old and special.

A lot of times when I have extra time on my hands I make my stops at Nathans. You know, arcades, pinball, dance machine, yadda-yadda. I tend not to notice a lot around me, it’s really making sure that I hit the right buttons at the right time. Today I stood in line to order some bacon-cheese fries (note to self, in the future, the bacon was too salty) and I realized that Nathans (on a Tuesday) becomes the hangout for: Preggers, Old People, and people from special buses. (We’re not talking about mothers with babies today)

Now traditionally I only see special people eating at Chinese Buffets, and by special people traditionally they are either retarded or have Down syndrome. Today I looked out of my car as I parked and looked to my left, it was a white and green school bus with the words “Cerebral Palsy” right on it. Now I had no problem with them, though I will admit, next to little kids they got pretty close to the dance handlebars. I just kinda grinned as I turned and then turned back quickly. I am always happy to see that these people get time out not to just like be stuck in some ward in a hospital or some “ditched” area since their family couldn’t care for them. I mean they really did try hard to make the basket in the basketball game but they just kinda lobbed it a foot before the basket. And whenever they are at the buffet they are pretty well mannered, and eat pretty normally. There’s a part of me that feels bad for them for their families not really being there, but then I just cross my fingers and hope it’s more like a day-care center and they pick them up.

Now the old people…I usually saw them at our Burger King. The Burger King has become a New York & Company so I always thought that the old people would just move to the McDonalds next door to the old Burger King, but I think they all moved to the Nathans. It really is just a place for them to sit back, read the newspaper, and talk to others. It’s funny, they start to get to know the workers and have conversations with them as well. It’s almost like they were the retarded ones, but without a leash. They visit, look around, mind their own business, eat a little, and then go.

I find it odd that Nathans is almost the post for Americas’ unwanted. The whole place is one of those American Dreams, well according to the little placemat paper they put on the trays, and now they just have America’s tired. Well, and me who gets tired from playing too long on the dance machine.