Alex got a job at George Mason working in the Johnson Center food court as a cashier. We've been very proud, because he has had a very good attitude about going to work, saving some money, and appreciating what it's like to be a "working stiff." He works two days a week, Saturday and Sunday, from noon to seven. Sometimes we give him a ride, and sometimes he rides his bike to work. It's only two miles from our house. He says he's saving money to buy a car, once he gets his license.
Lots of times he comes home on Sundays and tells us how slow it was, because a lot of students go home for the weekend or eat at the big dining hall instead of the food court. The food court is just like the ones at the mall, with a central pay station after you pick what you want from Burger King, the pizza place, chinese place, sub stop, or salad bar (I know - you're singing the Sesame Street song about what doesn't belong here...). Occasionally he even gets sent home early if it is so dead that they can't think of things for him to do. The cashiers have to restock the cups, napkins, straws, etc... when it's slow.
Yesterday, on Sunday, Gary and I were at home watching our DVR recorded Formula 1 race - (woo hoo congrats to Lewis Hamilton!) - and we noticed that it was 7 :30 and Alex wasn't home. It really shouldn't take much more than 1/2 an hour to ride home...hmmm...what's up? Around eight I was beginning to get a little more worried. Gary and I ate our dinners and Gary said he would go out to see if he could find Alex after he finished. Did he go to his new friend Ben's house without calling us??? Normally I'm not a worry wart, but he was running really late. On top of that he had left his cell phone at home because it wasn't charged up. Yes - he did get quite a talking to about that.
Well - around 8:15, in pops Alex more excited than I've ever seen him. He can barely get the words out. We manage to get him to calm down a little and find out that he worked late because it was unexpectedly busy and the other Sunday cashier was on break at 7 when Alex usually leaves. Alex volunteered to stay a bit until the other guy came back. While he was working that extra half hour, who decided to stop by the Johnson Center for a cheeseburger - but Hillary Clinton! Now, I knew that she was going to be on campus on Sunday, but I hadn't mentioned it to anyone because I didn't know what time or exactly where she would be. I didn't anticipate that she would want a cheeseburger from Burger King. I only knew about it because my office assistant is a student who is very involved in the Obama campaign.
Alex said that there weren't many people around, but the staff were told not to ask for photos. So I don't have a picture of my son selling Senator Clinton a cheeseburger, but he did tell me that she used a credit card and he did recognize her.
He said, "Thank you Mrs. Clinton, have a nice day."
