Based on 106 community votes, the most popular answer to “He Paid For My First Fried Chicken Alone” is “Go every Friday and keep his ritual” — chosen by 40% of voters.
Category: heartwarming • Theme: 📬 Unspoken Words
I don't know why I'm posting this. I've never posted anything like this before. I had just gotten back from a deployment, still in uniform because I was too tired to change. I stopped at Mae's Diner on Highway 144, the corner booth by the window, the one my dad always asked for when I was a kid. We used to split the fried chicken plate there, extra gravy, two iced teas. Every birthday, every holiday, every time I came home on leave. The last time I saw him, I think it was raining. Or maybe the parking lot just looked wet under the lights. He was in a hurry to get back to my mom, I said I'd call tomorrow. I remember that word more than the hug. So at Mae's, I ordered the same fried chicken plate we always shared. I couldn't finish it. The coleslaw had too much pepper. The waitress said, "That old guy who was here? He took care of it. Says he does that every Friday for soldiers." The soldier found out when he asked for the check. By then the man was gone. I went back to my car and Windexed the windshield until the bottle was empty. EDIT: I came back this Friday. The waitress said, "Your dad used to sit right there and brag about you to anyone who'd listen." I thought he barely paid attention; seems he told everyone except me. What would YOU do?
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