100 People in 100 Days:vii. Terry Phat

Terry Phat, a teenage Asian-American who worked at the fast food franchise Del Mex in a northern suburb of Los Angeles which was populated mostly by Hispanic immigrants, stood by the register of the fast food store waiting for someone to place an order. In the back, backing burritos and french fries where Juan and Miguel who were having a very animated and loud discussion in Spanish.

Then a ping in Terry’s headset chimed. He pushed a button on the little control box strapped to his wasted, “Welcome to Del Mex. Would you like to try our new shrimp tacos?”

A disembodies voice replied back through the headset, “No. Can I get…uh…chicken or beef? A chicken supreme burrito, two green half-pounders, and three soft tacos…oh, and a regular nacho.” All the while Terry pushed various buttons on the cash register.

He pushed the button again, “So I got A chicken supreme, two half-pounders with green sauce, three soft tacos, and a regular nacho.” He looked at the total price, “And drinks with that?”

“No. Thank you.”

“Alright, your total is six-sixty-six.”

Terry pushed the button to send the complete order to the kitchen. The car pulled up to the drive-thru window. Inside was a Caucasian man and woman.

Terry opened the little window and said, “You don’t look like the devil.”

The man driving the car furrowed his brow and counted the change in his hand.

“That will be six dollars and sixty-six cents.” The man handed Terry a ten dollar bill and sixty-six sense. “You know, when most people here that total—you know six six six—they usually freak out and ask if they can add something else to the order.”

The man, finally understanding the odd greeting, smiled, “Oh, I don’t care. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Not the superstitious type I guess,” Terry replied to the man. Terry gave the driver four one dollar bills and then closed the little window. He turned around and stared at the stainless steel counter until Juan and Miguel finished cooking the order. Then Terry bagged up the food into two bags and turned back to the little window and opened it.

He reached out and handed one bag to the man, “There are your burritos…and here are the tacos and nachos,” he said as he handed the driver the other bag. “Hey, thanks for coming and have a good night.”

“Thanks,” said the man.

Terry then closed the small window and waited for the next ping to chime in his ear.