The 2 A.M. Crave

We stopped off and got a bunch of "Krystals" on the way to take Mom back to Pensacola last night. "Krystal" is the South's version of "White Castle", but I actually like 'em better...
The burgers are a little bigger, the taste is slightly milder, and the buns are like cake. Mmmmmmmmmmm.
But EVERY SINGLE TIME I go to either White Castle or Krystal the memory returns...

Fifty years ago or so, we got a crave in the wee hours of the morning. I've found ya either love 'em or hate 'em...
Sliders, belly bombers, Whitey one bites, call 'em what you want, who hasn't had a contest to see who could eat the most of 'em?
My memory is the restaurant was on Madison Avenue. TPO, Hawkeye, Bones, and me joined the line of cravers waiting to order burgers.
I was first in line. The pleasantly inebriated black man next to me turned, nodded and smiled.

"Can I take your order?"
She was probably 27 or so... an older(!), but attractive woman.
Her name tag said "Betty", and on the tag beneath her name it said "Manager".
"Betty Manager, meet TPO" I said with a smile, gesturing to my friend next in line behind me.
Betty manager had heard it all...
Drunks, stupid, testosterone-packed near-teens... Nothing fazed her at 2 A.M..
She smiled, looked deep into my eyes and said something romantic like, "$2.75 please."
But my new, lubricated black friend had enjoyed my joke, and felt that kinship with the rest of us you often feel while standing in line at White Castle. He turned to me, smiling, and broke into song...
"La dee dah dah dee. La dee dah dah die."
Then he said, "I wrote that, ya know?
"Oh, REALLY?" I responded.
"Yeah, they were having trouble finding words to fill space in the song so they called me. I wrote that part."

Brilliant.
It works perfectly there.
So remember whenever you hear that song, a guy in Indianapolis played an integral part in its success.
And never ignore those standing next to you in line at White Castle or Krystal...
It's entirely possible you're standing next to genius.