Chuck E. Cheese

I have a confession....I secretly love Chuck E. Cheese. No not a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party or a weekend field trip, but a weekday outing. The one by us is just the right size. If I can score a booth right in the middle, I can see the WHOLE place. I get about a million tokens and divide them into three cups. My kids each get one. They head out with their cups, like Senior Citizens in a room of slot machines. They return to me when they are out of tokens and I replenish their supply and collect their tickets.

In the meantime, since I am able to tune out the noise, I can read uninterrupted for quite a while. I glance up occasionally and get a visual and then back to my book.

It's guaranteed uninterrupted time! Except when Chuck E. Cheese make his entrance. The Boy is afraid of the big mouse. We have to ask when we arrive, when Chuck E. is expected When he enters the restaurant, the Boy hides under the table.

Speaking of Chuck E. Cheese. I LOVE watching the staff and wondering WHO will tasked with this job. Last time, I watched this one employee. He is always so busy. So determined to do his job. Polite to the kids, but under appreciated by the clientèle. They come to him with all their complaints...the tickets are out...I lost my token...the machine is broken...He dutifully makes things right while the kids take their due and continue on in the chaos.

Then 15 minutes later....Chuck E. arrives on the scene (as the previously noted employee is noticeably missing). He bounds out...the star of the show. The kids run to him....giving him High-5s and hugs. For a moment, this guy is the star...everyone wants to be around him Everyone has been waiting to see him. Everyone is disappointed to see him go.

Moments later, Chuck E.Cheese is gone. The dutiful employee re-enters....to a back log of requests. I wonder what is going on in his mind?