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"Leticia said that the hair brush was flushed down the toilet
yesterday afternoon. The chances that it's still in the toilet are pretty slim, especially
with all the flushing since. The obstruction is probably in the drain pipe by now.
If we use an electric auger, won't the pipe still remain clogged?" asked Mike.
"We'll just move the obstruction further down the pipe," agreed Adam.
"So... we have to remove the toilet and remove the clog that way," reasoned
Mike, thoughtfully. "Am I right, Uncle Adam?" asked Mike, searching for
a concurring diagnosis.
"You're learning," answered Adam, with a proud smile. It was late in the
afternoon when Adam and Mike finally removed the hair brush from Room 2's drain pipe.
When they reappeared from the bathroom, Ruth had already eaten her lunch and fallen
asleep. Quietly, Adam and Mike cleaned up the mess they had made in the bathroom,
loaded their tools back into the van, and took off their coveralls.
"I don't know about you," said Adam, slamming the back door of the van
shut, "but I'm hungry. Why don't we get a bite to eat before tackling Mrs. Tieger's
septic?"
"Where do you want to go?" asked Mike, as Adam drove down Twin Yucca's
Main Street.
"Hanna's all right with you?"
"Sure," replied Mike.
Hanna's Family Restaurant was a popular gathering place for many of Twin Yucca's
citizens. The restaurant was family owned and operated by the Hanna family, themselves.
Marilyn Hanna managed and was the head cook; her husband, Gerald Hanna, was in charge
of the books; their twin daughters, Jenna and Kendra, (who had recently turned fifteen),
helped out after school.
To outsiders, the difference between the manager's name and the restaurant's name
were sometimes a thing of puzzlement. Marilyn was the person the customers interacted
with, so she was obviously the "Hanna" in Hanna's Family Restaurant. Newcomers
had a hard time understanding that Hanna was Marilyn's last name and not her first.
The distinction was further jumbled by the fact that, conversationally, the townspeople
had shortened the restaurant's name to just "Hanna's."
Whatever disagreements people had about the name, they all agreed on one thing--
the food. Marilyn Hanna was well known for her homemade breads: Raisin, Cinnamon
Swirl, Banana Nut, Pecan Cinnamon, French Onion, and Cornbread. She also sold whole
homemade pies that ranged from Apple to Vanilla Creme. During breakfast hours Marilyn
served waffles and blueberry pancakes; lunch featured assorted sandwiches and pizza
with toppings by demand; dinner's specialties varied as the seasons and the availability
of produce changed. All in all, the Hanna's made a good living.
As Adam and Mike entered the restaurant, the aroma of freshly baked pizza greeted
their nostrils.
"We already know what we're ordering," announced Mike, pushing aside the
menu the waitress handed them.
The food came, and since no female scrutiny was around to tell them not to talk with
their mouths full of pizza, Adam and Mike continued to discuss business just as though
they were at work.
"Friday night we need to do inventory," reminded Adam, taking another bite
of pizza. Mike looked up in surprise.
"Friday night? I forgot all about inventory!" exclaimed Mike, disappointedly.
"Did you have other plans?" asked Adam, picking up his napkin.
"It's nothing important," replied Mike, downplaying his prior reaction
of disappointment.
"Does it have to do with Sandra?" asked Adam, concealing a smile behind
his napkin as he wiped his mouth. |
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