Like the mad hatter, with his March hare, and sleepy dormouse, — Alice in Wonderland,– these three characters are waiting to get in to the first dinner seating which is at 4:15, more or less.
I woke from a nap, looked at my casio watch, misread it, and got up to the dining room at 4pm.
At 4:05 – Charlie Mumbles arrives with his Rollator filled with clothing for any weather or season, and the following dialogue ensues:
Charlie: Hi Dabid
Me: Hi Charlie
Charlie: When do we go in?
Me: What?
(I happen to know he goes in on the 2nd shift at 5:15)
Charlie: My watch says (garbled)
Me: I thought you’re on the 2nd shift?
Charlie: I understand. I’m waiting for the 2nd shift.
(A woman with her marbles, the woman with no name, enters on her rollator where she watches fake wrestling all day)
Charlie: I’m not the first shift anymore I’m the 2nd shift, I changed over about a month ago. (True).
Me: So now you’re on the 2nd shift?
Charlie: That’s right. That’s what I’m waiting for.
Me: No. The second shift is later.
(I turn to the woman watching wrestling who I’ve already exchanged glances with and shrug my shoulders. In one last attempt I show Charlie my watch. It says: 4:15.)
Instead of reacting or seeing the time, he says: Very nice!
Charlie notices the woman with no name. And he shows his watch to her.
Charlie: How are you miss no name?
And for the first time I see his watch, and a) it is big with an LCD for a blind man and b) the time is wrong. It say’s 5:15!
So she picks up on this and says to Charlie: you’re watch is wrong! (You do have to yell a little at some point.)
And I repeat, practically screaming in his ear: Your watch is an hour fast. It’s 4:15 not 5:15.
Charlie looks me dead in the face, lifts up the dark glasses he’s been wearing. And says: well time to eat, I guess. I’ll have my case worker fix this soon.
Waitress as he tries to make his way behind the line or Rollators: No Charlie. This is the first shift. You’re on the 2nd shift. And he shows her his big incorrect watch and concludes:
Why is that man seated at my table…?
BECK 