Angel Feathers

Standards

John pulled up to Benny's Burgers in front of the grocery store, parked his car and got out, carrying a tablet. As the new district manager of the national chain, transferred from Metro Atlanta to a podunk region of coastal Florida, he wanted to visit each restaurant within his territory and get to know them better.

From the moment he walked inside, there was something different about this Benny's. The first thing he noticed was a life-size artificial wisteria tree in a wicker basket, placed by the front entry. Glancing around, he saw many other flower arrangements, large and small: one at each table setting, several lined up on the checkout counter, even one perched on top of the fountain drink dispenser, surrounded by little plastic knick-knacks.

He frowned. Fake flowers everywhere? At Benny's? That wasn't right. Rather than the usual TV mounted in the corner of the sterile tile walls, there was a painting, a copy of Monet's water lilies.

By the service counter, a poster of the Ten Commandments hung on the wall. His jaw dropped. He stared blankly at it as though it were written in a foreign language.

“Have you been helped, sir?” A young lady asked, coming to stand by the cash register.

John introduced himself and asked to see the manager. A little old lady came bustling out of the office, adjusting her gray bun.

“Good afternoon, sir! They told us you would be coming to visit. I'm pleased to meet you.”

“Same here, Mrs. Jones. Would you care to show me around?”

She guided him through the dining room, where lace cloths adorned all the tables and a floral garland with tiny lights stretched around the perimeter.

“I don't understand why you've, er, decorated the area so intricately. It's not the usual Benny's.”

“The customers like it. I even set up a kiddie corner. Everyone's happy.”

She pointed to a low table, with kid-size chairs, a stack of alphabet books, coloring pages and crayons. John shook his head in bewilderment.

“That's too close to the fountain dispenser. Honestly, ma'am, I'm afraid this is not set up to standard protocol. We want customers to have the same experience at each Benny's they visit.”

“You want me to remove all this?” She raised an eyebrow.

“It's—yes. The fake flowers are dust catchers. You can't clean them. I've been district manager over hundreds of stores, and I've never seen one with lace tablecloths or posters on the wall.”

They continued to circle the dining area. John was beginning to feel as though he were in a cozy tea shop, like an AI video. It was peculiar, yet comfortable, with a small-town charm. But it wasn't a proper Benny's Burgers!

His befuddlement grew deeper when they came to a front corner window, where a round table was arranged with a plate, a glass, an open book, a placard, and a vase of fresh flowers with a US flag tucked into it. A framed photo of a solemn man in uniform stood by the vase. Something about this mysterious display reminded John of an altar.

He leaned in closer to read the words on the sign. “To honor all our soldiers missing in action. You will never be forgotten. Your sacrifice for our country is deeply appreciated each and every day. Our prayers are with you.”

John turned to Mrs. Jones. She nodded.

“My husband,” she said quietly. “He never returned.”

“I'm sorry to hear.”

In that moment, John began to understand what he was seeing. A woman rooted in her community, providing a hometown experience to her friends and neighbors. It was something he would never be a part of, but he could leave it be.

For he knew what it felt like to lose someone on the battlefront. His own son was missing in action. Mrs. Jones unique decoration of her Benny's franchise stood as a testament to the strength of a small town, where those who defended the country were not forgotten.

Words: 663.
Written for "Honoring Our Veterans - Challenge" 
Inspired by a true story.

Join "WDC Dragon Vale "