Yes, it caught my by surprise. I just thought I was pulling in for a fill-up. I wanted to check out the Mobil station that opened in the south end of Woodbury. Nothing could have prepared me for the reception I was to receive.
A young lad approached my car. He was attired in navy Dockers, a blue shirt with a muted red stripe in it (must be the corporate colours), white round collar, a red bow tie (which I assumed was pre-made), his short blond hair was combed straight back… teeth gleaming white.
I put down my window.
“Welcome to Woodbury’s Mobil Gas Station! How can I be of service?” He may have clicked his heels; but I couldn’t tell from my position behind the wheel.
My first thought… my what a refreshing throw-back! Then my natural cynicism took charge. What’s this kid doing out of school? Tell me he dropped out of school to get this job! I wasn’t sure, but it looked like he had been recruited from the ranks of either the Hitler Youth or the Young Republicans. I smiled back, “fill it with regular, please.”
“Right away, sir!”
As my “Hummer” (actually it’s Subaru Outback; but I like to pretend that it’s a Hummer) was taking on fuel, he came around to the front, cleaned down my windshield and proceeded to look under my hood. Checked the key connections, looked at my oil and water, shut the hood and wiped any offending smears from the top, “You’re fine, sir! Would you like me to speed-vac your foot wells and floor mats?” And with this he opened my front door.
“Well… gee.” And before I could answer he vacuumed my floor mats and the edges by the door. I should have asked him if he would iron my shirts and press my boxer shorts.
While he was on my side of the car, he polished the side view mirror and began cleaning the side windows working his way to the back. I thought about this… Well, this is Woodbury! We have First Selectman just like New Canaan and those other fancy shmancy Fairfield County Towns! Hah! I bet they don’t have this!
My windows done to a spotless shine, he returned, “Would you like a useful road map of the Northeast. They’re FREE! And even with GPS systems, a good map always comes in handy in finding places of interest that you may not even know existed… like this: Somers Mountain Indian Museum in Somers.” He had a point. I have lived in Connecticut for only 58 years and I never knew that there was a Somers Mountain, or a Somers, Connecticut. But it’s pretty safe to assume that in our small state, at one time the forests teemed with Native Americans… so it makes perfect sense that there would be a museum there.
I declined the map.
He finished the fill-up to the tune of $39 and something, figured at $4.23 a gallon. I gave him my debit card and he asked, “Would like a cup a fresh hot coffee and a cinnamon donut from Dottie’s Diner, it Mobil’s way of saying, ‘thanks for your kind patronage!’”
“I’ll pass on the donut (even though Dottie’s, formerly known as Philip’s, donuts are insane); but a cup of coffee would be nice.”
“Irish Cream or Dark Roast… and how do you take your coffee?”
“Dark Roast, black.”
I’m thinking that on fill-ups you should tip 20% and on partials 15%… and if he offered to press my boxer shorts, or if he could prove that he tied his bow tie, I can see going to 30%.
He returned and handed me the chit to sign, “Today’s weather calls for intermittent showers, breaks of sunshine, a chance of thundershowers in the afternoon and a return to humidity. You have a good day, sir and drive safely!”
So I don’t eat dinner for the next couple of nights… big deal!
As soon as Zagat’s hears about this place, you’ll have to make a reservation to get gas! Definitely… 20%
n.b. I made everything up, except the price of the gas. Oh, and Dottie’s Donuts are great.