WHITE CHICKEN AND OTHER RANDOM STORIES

A couple days ago my friend, Hamon, and I were recalling old stories about our friend Jimmy during our college years. Jimmy is one of the most animated people I know with a gift for telling stories and creating them through his amusing manners and timely words.

After Jimmy and some of his friends graduated from Northwestern University, they took a road trip out west and visited the Grand Canyon. As they approached one of the viewing plateaus, they told me there was great anticipation from most of the guys since majority of them never visited this majestic creation. As soon as the van stopped, they jumped out to catch their first view of the canyon. Just silence and awe.

Jimmy was late getting out of the van, followed up behind them, took one glance, and said, "Okay... It's great. Can we go now?" A few of them glazed back at Jimmy, who openly admitted his lack of appreciation for nature and its wonders. My friend, Peter, told me that Jimmy ruined the moment for some of them that day. Now we all just laugh at this typical Jimmy moment.

Hamon also talked about the time Jimmy came by and asked him and Pete, "Hey, let's go to the White Chicken for some drinks and snacks."

"White Chicken? Where's that?"

"White Chicken... you know the place down the street."

Hamon and Pete were confused, "No. We don't know that place."

"Come on guys! You know... bawk, bawk! The White Chicken!" Jimmy's frustrated voice cracked as he flapped his arms like a chicken.

Hamon and Peter were still confused and Jimmy grew more frustrated and flapped his wings even more.

Eventually, they realized he was talking about White Hen Pantry, but since it was his first year in Chicago he wasn't familiar with all the commercial names. Hamon and Peter grew up in Chicago and had limited powers of recognition since they were too familiar with the White Hen brand even if Jimmy's incorrect name was very close.

"White Hen... White Chicken! Same thing...geez!" he proclaimed at the end.