Fingernails on the Doughnut

A Bright Drive-Thru Moment

The lady at the Dunkin’ drive-thru reaches out to collect my money and her fingernails shine like super-novas. They are brilliant gold and pointy with streaks of - I don’t know how to describe it - speckled birthday cake?

She’s not wearing a name tag, but I know in my heart of hearts that her name is Midge.

“Wow!” I tell her, “Your nails are amazing!”

“Awww thank you, hon,” Midge says, and now I know her name is Midge because she called me hon. “One customer today asked me how long the batteries last for my nails! I told him at least two weeks!”

We both laugh and Midge and her billboard nails goes to get my coffee and doughnut. And when she returns, she surprises me by leaning her head out the window, practically inside my cars, and she whispers, “I gave you an extra doughnut, don’t tell anybody.”

And she does that thing with your thumb and forefinger where you’re buttoning up your lips. “Thank you!” I say.

She beams and her fingernails beam and the day is off to a bright and shining start.