Chicago Adventure

Back in the late 70s, my trio-mates and I were in Chicago, looking to find venues that would let us play our original folk and folk-rock song sets, and hopefully make a little cash for gas as well.

We had stopped at a Ground Round type restaurant (they were popular back then, there were lots of different ones in Chicago) as we were getting ready for our 8hr trip home. We’d pooled our money to have a quick bite before hitting the road.

Unfortunately, my band mates were rather nasty shits at the time, and harassed the waitress through our whole time there. She took it with no complaint, but I was embarrassed to be seated with them… but then again, they were my ride home.

After the meal, I left to use the toilet. I’d left a couple of dollar bills on the table as my part of the tip. They said they’d meet me in the van. Once I was out of sight, one or both of them had snatched up my part of the tip and had emptied a coin-jar, leaving close to $8 in change (mostly pennies with a few nickles and dimes) on the table… It was a huge handful. How did I find out?

When I walked through the dining room to leave, the waitress stopped me and tried to dump the double handful of change into my hand, which I let fall through my fingers to the floor. She sneered at me, “You guys look like you need this more than me.” She turned and stalked away.

Yes, I was embarrassed and pisssed off, not at her, but at my so-called friends, band mates. When I got to the van, they were snickering, pleased with themselves. I ghosted them for the rest of the trip home. I’m surprised that our band actually lasted as long as it did, even though that was only a couple of years. It ultimately broke up over their bickering with each other.

–LE

PS: In case you’re wondering, I’m the one with the fiddle, about 30 years old…