dotinthesky: (Default)
Dot in the Sky ([personal profile] dotinthesky) wrote2007-09-21 10:30 am
Entry tags:

I Was in Love with the Clown

I'm sitting in Bethnal Green's McDonald's. £3.59 for a Quarter Pounder with cheese, fries and medium Coke. For someone with only £9 in his bank account, that's a deal. I've got a table for myself, in the corner, by the windows. Market stalls are set up on the sidewalk, up and down Bethnal Green Road. One dress costs £8; two go for £15. The seller puts his cigarette on the ledge of McDonald's window when a customer shows interest, then picks the cigarette again when they are gone. Not even radiation can kill him.

My table is circular, faux black marble. The chairs are covered with pumpkin-coloured leather. R&B is the radio's choice. Generic, godawful paintings cover the walls. Two elderly women sit to my left; they drink coffee and share a portion of fries. I can see them using this McDonald's as a meeting point, once a week. The guy to my right sits alone, plugged into his iPod. Could be on his lunch break.

I'd been craving grease and cheap food, so I broke my McDonald's ban. I hadn't been inside one for years. I used to eat every weekend in McDonald's when I lived in Hong Kong. Whenever you placed an order, the person behind the till would say "and then?" They would keep asking you "and then?" until you had ordered all their burgers, fries, cokes, milk shakes and sundaes. I loved smoking a Marlboro Lights after my meal.

Cross-posted to [livejournal.com profile] mcdonalds_talk

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2007-09-21 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I got paid in food and wine (I didn't want money since they are friends.) I'm getting money from the government so it's OK. And I have an interview on Monday with a temp agency (the one that originally got me a job at the National.) All is good.

[identity profile] desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com 2007-09-21 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Alright, I'm just worried about you!

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2007-09-21 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I've got the credit card baby. When the belt tightens, I take some dough out. :-)

But thing will be OK. I've got a feeling.

[identity profile] desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com 2007-09-21 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Ok, I know you're fine, it just sucks to be that close to the wire, I know!