Here is this weekend’s Trifecta Writing Challenge:
” We want a real account of a period in your life that can be clearly identified by (wait for it) the number three.”
How I Managed to Stick My Finger Up Steve McQueen’s Nose
When I was 17, I got a job working at The Iceburg Drive-in, a family-owned hamburger stand. Everything was rather make shift and, in the hot weather, we had a lot of trouble keeping flies from coming in.
There was a window in the front where people would walk up and place their orders.
To complete a transaction without flies getting inside, you had to push the screen open from the inside, take the person’s money and then quickly reach outside and curl your hand up and around the outside wood base of the screen to pull it back down again –a task we performed all day long.
Now I know it’s unbelievable but one of our regular customers was a guy who looked exactly like Steve McQueen. Naturally whenever we would see him coming, we girls would practically shove each other out of the way to get to be the one who took his order.
The first two times I was too slow and someone else beat me to the punch. But the third time Steve McQueen showed up I was ready, and positioned myself at the window with pad and pencil at the ready.
I carefully wrote down deluxe hamburger, side of fries and large Coke in my best handwriting, just in case he might have been impressed with that kind of thing, you know.
Then I opened the screen, took his money, made change and handed it back to him, imagining all the while there was a one in a million chance he might even be the actual real Steve McQueen!
But when I reached out to curl my hand around the base of the screen to close it, I accidentally, somehow — and god only knows how — managed to stick my finger up Steve McQueen’s nose!
It all happened so fast. We were both utterly stunned.
After that, whenever Steve McQueen showed up, and the girls would jockey for positon at the front window, I would quickly maneuver myself to the back room.
Until next time . . . I love you
Linda Vernon Humor 
Hi,
That was hilarious, I would of hidden as well, he most likely will always remember the time he placed an order and got a finger up the nose. 😀
Haha! I know. Wouldn’t that be something if he read this story! I suppose stranger things have happened! 😀
I’m sorry to ask, but isn’t he dead?
Oh no! At least you can laugh about it on your blog all these years later. His third visit was NOT the charm for you.
Haha! So true jesterqueen! And being able to write about it later just goes to show you that it’s true what they say, there’s a reason for everything! 😀
HAHA this is hilarious! It must have been incredibly awkward at the time, but I’m glad you can laugh about it now 🙂
You are right about that. I don’t think it can get any more awkward! HA! But it did give me a funny story for this challenge! 😀
…and just like in little league, poor Steve was the last one picked.
LOL! The last one picked! Kind of gives new meaning to the term “you really know how to pick ’em.” 😀
I actually met Steve McQueen, in 1980 in Arvin California out on a secluded air strip, he stopped in to buy fuel for his Bi-plane, I cleaned the windows and fueled it up while my boss chatted with him. After he left I remembered I had a camera in the car. (~_~)
Really? You met the real Steve McQueen! Now that’s really something! I wonder what he was up to getting gas in Arvin California? I wonder what you were up to? Intriguing story Art. I hope you’ll blog about it someday. It sounds very Zen! 😀
That is too hilarious. You can’t make up stories like that. Actually, considering the source you could easily make up the most outlandish tale of all!
Haha! You’re right Ronnie. Real life is always much weirder than fiction — even my fiction! LOL! 😀
Thanks for linking up with Trifextra this week. I hope this story is true. I love it, especially the bit about your careful handwriting. Sounds just like something I’d have done. Or something I’d do. 🙂
Haha! Well I didn’t spend three years in Jr highs school practicing my handwriting all day long for nothing. Well actually, I guess it was for nothing! But still! 😀 Oh and yes it really did happen and I would have never thought to write about it without the challenge! 😀
that was fun 🙂
So glad you like it rashmemon! And thanks for taking the time to come by! 😀
Which finger? was it the middle one? it’s funny no matter what… but that ..would be funny too. Im sure you would have come up with a great comeback.. oh look the bird didn’t catch (or did) a worm.. ewww ok nevermind. Love it! ❤
Yep, Lizzie, it was definitely the middle finger! But that’s only fitting isn’t it? HA HA! The early bird . . . oy! 😀
Lol!!!! This is way too funny! I think he was so taken with your beautiful penmanship that he sub-consciously put his nose in a position that would ensure your delicate fingers, the very ones that took his order, would probe his nose. hahaha! It’s very possible that he walked away feeling light headed and swooning from his encounter with the Iceburg Drive-In angel, the gal we know and love as, Linda : )
LOL Lisa! You’re right! Why was he standing so close to the window if he wasn’t trying to get a load of my extrodinarily neat handwriting! It couldn’t have been anything else! I mean just seconds before “the incident” he might have even been about to ask me out on a date . . . until the fickle finger of fate got involved! HA! 😀
He obviously enjoyed your nose pickin’ ability ’cause he kept comin’ back for more.
Well said!
And Ms LV, well written!
Ah thanks braintomahawk! 😀
Well, justkeepinitrealfolks, you know what they say . . . the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach . . . and sometimes his nose! 😀
I choose to think of this as just a subtle way of flirting.
Haha Addie! You know how it is, sometimes a girl is forced to take drastic measures! 😀
Third time maybe not so charming – huh? Funny story!
Haha Libby. Definitely no so charming! But at least it gave me a topic for this writing challenge all these years later! I can’t really say if it was worth it . . .I think it was! LOL
Yep, I’d have avoided him after that, too. At least it was good for a funny story! You’ll get the last laugh if you take the Trifecta challenge this week 🙂
Haha jannatwrites! And if that happens all I can say is God does work in mysterious ways! 😀
What a funny and poignant story! I loved it!
Haha! Thank you Tessa! And thanks for taking the time to come by and read about me and Steve! HA 😀
This is hilarious. What did you say to Steve when you found your finger in his nose?
Kelly if only i could have thought of a clever comeback. But in reality neither of us even acknowledged it since it was so freakishly weird, we were both speechless! HA 😀
Your burgers must have been the best to make him come back. 😉
Thanks for the laugh to start the week.
Oh they were the best burgers ever, Imelda! And they made real milkshakes and used the very best ingredients in the burgers. Oh, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! In fact, if it wasn’t 800 miles away, I’d go there for lunch! HA! 😀
[…] Linda Vernon […]
I remember there was a scene in The Magnificent Seven where they all ride up to a hamburger stand. Six of ’em dismount and go up to the window to place their order, but McQueen stays on his horse with one hand kinda cupped around his nose. It all makes sense now… : P