About once a week for years now I’ve stopped at the Carl’s Jr. near the office and gotten breakfast. And in that time the morning crew and I have gotten to know each other.
The usual process goes something like this; I pull up in my big rumbly sedan at a few minutes after they open at 6am and the voice over the speaker says “Good morning Mr. Miller – the usual?” And I answer “Good morning Rose, yes please.” I then pull around and spend a minute or so chatting with Rose about the weather or whatever before I’m given a large Coke Zero and a steak and egg breakfast burrito, and then head up the street to the office.
Rose is a single mother with two teenagers who works the morning shift at Carl’s Jr. and spends three afternoons a week with some rental maid service. She’s a really nice lady in my experience.
Anyway, this morning I wasn’t greeted by Rose – instead it was a halting synthesized voice welcoming me to Carl’s Jr. and asking if I would like whatever the current special is.
I say no and ask for a steak and egg breakfast burrito – and it assumes this means I want a sausage and egg biscuit. I correct it and after a pause it asks if I would like that as a large combo? No – just the burrito. Would I like a large coffee? No – just the burrito. Would I like two apple pies for a dollar? No – just the burrito.
So, I go back and forth with the robot for a good 5 minutes as it struggles to either upsell me or figure out how to make an order that’s just an entrée and a drink. Meanwhile cars are piling up behind me.
Once I’m satisfied that the robot has understood my order I pull around and encounter a disinterested teenager instead of Rose – and am given a sausage and egg biscuit and a large coffee…
I miss Rose.
Listening to "Los Angeles" by FM-84