He had been coming to this particular diner since he was a kid. He still remembered the first table his late dad sat him at on their first visit and would always sit there whenever he was in town.
As he was only lightly buzzed from his night out, he made his way to the register and rang the bell. When no one came, he peeked over the counter only to see an empty kitchen. His sight fell back to the register, and he knew he’d never get a chance like this ever again.
Diners have been part of America for many decades. Regarded as pieces of timeless Americana, it is rare to drive around any town in the United States without running into one.
Diners have a special place in many of our hearts. These beautiful structures have transcended from being simple restaurants to our homes away from home. It’s understandable then that the protagonist of this story did what they felt they had to do.
Victor Hemsworth was your average thirty-nine-year-old army combat medic living in a small town in Florida. He was beloved by many, given his easy-going demeanor and giving heart.
After spending his twenties and thirties in the army, Victor had just retired back to his town and was looking to find work that could help take the free time on his hands.
Since he’d only gotten home, he spent a lot of time with his old friends playing golf, fishing, or going out for a drink or two.
He enjoyed all these activities, given that he hadn’t been this free since his late teens. Who knew what a night with his friends would lead to and the problem it would cause down the road?
The night that the incident took place was a legendary one for our protagonist. It all began with an afternoon at his favorite fishing spot with his high school friends.
The afternoon transitioned into a night at the local sports bar, where Victor and his crew knocked a few cold ones back while reminiscing about the good old days. It wouldn’t be until 3 AM that they’d call it a night.
As someone still looking for something to do, Victor knew he didn’t need to wake up early the next day.
Given that it was a Tuesday night, he’d take a cab home and sleep in before resuming his job search in the morning. He had no idea what awaited him at the local Waffle House dinner.
The night had gone splendidly for Victor and his friends. One by one, they each called it a night, saying their goodbyes and heading home.
Victor did the same too, but halfway through his cab ride, he decided that stopping at the town’s Waffle House would be a great idea. Without wasting time, he paid his cabby and hopped out of the vehicle.
The Waffle House restaurant chain has 1,900 locations spread over 25 American states. Established in 1955, the business is a monument to American breakfast cuisine.
Unsurprisingly, such a beloved diner usually serves its customers around the clock. Yes, Waffle House operates 24/7, with staff checking in for various shifts. What Victor would find and do that night would leave the entire state stunned.
Victor had been coming to this particular diner since he was a kid. He still remembered the first table his late dad sat him at on their first visit and would always sit there whenever he was in town.
As he was only lightly buzzed from his night out, he made his way to the register and rang the bell. When no one came, he peeked over the counter only to see an empty kitchen. His sight fell back to the register, and he knew he’d never get a chance like this ever again.
Victor called out to see if the diner was genuinely empty. His brows furrowed as a dark thought swept his mind. Did something happen to the night staff? Maybe he could help.
But even though Victor hurried across the counter to check if everything was alright, that same thought he’d had while looking at the counter kept tugging at him. Would he turn it into a reality?
Victor went into the kitchen only to find the night staff asleep. He knew Monday and Tuesday nights were usually slow nights for such businesses, especially in their small town.
He could only imagine the boredom and fatigue the staff must’ve been going through waiting on customers. Seeing that everything was alright, Victor considered waking the two up. But then that idea arose in his mind again, and his lips curled in response.
For the longest while, Victor had dreamt of making his food in this very diner. He’d eaten here a hundred times before, and each time he’d wondered what it would feel like to make his breakfast or lunch. This was his chance.
He hurried to the griddle and began giving life to his dream. He threw some bacon on the fiery surface, adding a burger patty, eggs, cheese, and hash browns. But he didn’t stop there.
While the food sizzled on the griddle, Victor snapped a few photos for his friends and family. He plated everything when the food was ready, woke the staff, and sat to eat.
Of course, he explained himself to the staff, saying he didn’t want to bother them as they looked tired. Little did he know the trouble that was barreling his way.
Victor shared his photos on Facebook, hoping his friends and family would get a good kick out of them. But the images went viral, snaring the attention of Waffle House’s management.
The chain restaurant commended Victor for exposing a chink in its armor. It stated that his actions show that a better approach needs to be taken toward its night shift program. But it didn’t stop there.
Waffle House gave Victor a job as a guest in a cooking show. They offered to train him in the role, hoping he’d bring his positive attitude to their program.
Given how massive Victor’s story had been on the internet, his appearance on the show tripled the views that night. Who knew a night out with friends could result in such a wild journey? Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
