Hmmm...
All of us have heard the saying, "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup!"; and, the responses, such as "Quiet, or everyone will want one," or, "Oh, I am so sorry sir, I'll have to charge extra for that."
I am not sure who originated the fly in the soup line, but I think that I can remember the late greats Jack Benny and Henny Youngman using it in their comedic spiels in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
I am not sure who originated the fly in the soup line, but I think that I can remember the late greats Jack Benny and Henny Youngman using it in their comedic spiels in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Well, in almost 62 years, (from the time I was about 5 – I’m looking over the fence at 67 come this October 25th), of going to restaurants every now and then, it finally happened. There was a fly in my soup. How it got there is the interesting part.
Our son Clint and I met at McGrath's Fish House Restaurant at the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood for a bite to eat before he went shopping for a suit. One of the items I ordered was an appetizer size order of steamed clams, with the requisite broth of butter, finely chopped garlic and basil, diced tomato, white wine, and clam juices. It is the kind of concoction that is meant for sopping up with butter-lathered sourdough French bread.
There was an annoying fly buzzing around our table. I waved it away from me and it continued to fly around all over the place. It was about two feet away from me and about two feet into the air, buzzing back and forth over our table.
The food server had just served the steamed clams. They looked great, and as if a nuclear reactor had heated them, steaming hot. Clint and I tried a couple of the clams and they were quite tasty.
The fly returned to annoy me, and I watched as it flew in an upward spiral above the large bowl containing an appetizer portion of clams. Suddenly, the fly stopped flying, as if an invisible missile had hit it. Its lifeless body fell straight into the clam broth. It was dead on arrival into that still very hot liquid. There was no effort to swim, no help me I’m drowning. It was dead.
The food server had just served the steamed clams. They looked great, and as if a nuclear reactor had heated them, steaming hot. Clint and I tried a couple of the clams and they were quite tasty.
The fly returned to annoy me, and I watched as it flew in an upward spiral above the large bowl containing an appetizer portion of clams. Suddenly, the fly stopped flying, as if an invisible missile had hit it. Its lifeless body fell straight into the clam broth. It was dead on arrival into that still very hot liquid. There was no effort to swim, no help me I’m drowning. It was dead.
I informed the food server, and she thought I was kidding – until I showed her the fly’s body, floating near the top of the broth. She went to inform the manager on duty. Clint took two pics of the fly. One with the fly in the broth, and one with the fly moved to a piece of diced tomato in a clamshell for a better look. (By the way, take a look at that small clam and see if it reminds you of anything.)
It took several minutes for the manager to appear. I explained what had happened, but he looked at me as if he thought it was not funny, almost as if it were an every day occurrence.
I thought the whole thing was funny, and tried to make light of the situation. I mentioned that at his next regional meeting, he would have a true fly in the soup story to tell others in his company. What a great opportunity!
To their credit, the manager removed the clam appetizer from the bill, and the food server provided a free dessert item, in lieu of another order of steamed clams.
It took several minutes for the manager to appear. I explained what had happened, but he looked at me as if he thought it was not funny, almost as if it were an every day occurrence.
I thought the whole thing was funny, and tried to make light of the situation. I mentioned that at his next regional meeting, he would have a true fly in the soup story to tell others in his company. What a great opportunity!
To their credit, the manager removed the clam appetizer from the bill, and the food server provided a free dessert item, in lieu of another order of steamed clams.
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