So yesterday I'm in an El Pollo Loco waiting to order and there's a couple behind me in line. She's a cute teenager who is obviously very sweet on her guy even if he has taken her to El Pollo Loco. He's a tad older than she is and he's wearing the proud garb of someone who works at McDonald's. There's a McDonald's in the same shopping center as this El Pollo Loco. The fellow's name (I learn) is Rob.
I'm just about to order when a man of about forty bursts into the El Pollo Loco. He does not walk in through the door. He bursts. He too is wearing the colors of the Golden Arches but he appears to be a manager there. "What the hell are you doing here?" he demands of Rob.
Rob is startled. "I'm on my break, Mr. Whatever-the-Guy's-Name-Was," he says. He didn't say "Whatever-the-Guy's-Name-Was." He said his name but I don't remember it so I'm calling him Mr. Whatever-the-Guy's-Name-Was. "I'm just getting some lunch with Whatever-the-Girl's-Name-Was."
Mr. W-t-G-N-W shrieks, "At our competitor? In your uniform?" He actually calls it a uniform then he ticks off whatever section of the McDonald's Penal Code has been violated. O.J. Simpson hacked two people to death and I don't think he's ever been dressed down like this.
The McDonald's employee, who may not be that for long, stammers that he forgot about the rule or didn't know about the rule or something. His main defense is that he promised his lady friend that if she came over while he was on his break, they'd grab a fast lunch.
"We have fast lunches at our restaurant," Mr. W-t-G-N-W responds and yes, he actually calls it a restaurant. Then he adds, "…in case you didn't know."
Rob says, "Well, she didn't want to eat at McDonald's." Another patron of El Pollo Loco calls out, "None of us do!" and everyone in the place laughs. The El Pollo Loco manager leans over and tells his opposite number at Mickey D's, "Hey, I don't come over to your place…" The McDonald's manager has said what he had to say so he mutters a smidgen of an apology for the intrusion and gets the hell outta there.
I go ahead and order some chicken and then Rob orders some chicken. And all anyone in the building can think is, "Boy, that manager sure did a fine job of protecting the reputation of McDonald's."