BURGER WARS: The exciting conclusion

BURGER WARS Chapter IV: THE CUSTOMER STRIKES BACK THE EXCITING CONCLUSION
JUST THEN, THE HEADSET CRACKLED TO LIFE: "Drive-thru Trainee Dexter Anderson to Team Leader: We lost Skeeter! We lost Hutch! Coupons and senior discount cards were flying in too fast to intercept." "Leader to Anderson: I copy. What about Mac?" "Anderson to Leader: He didn't make it, poor devil. Last I saw, his register had locked up and he was spiraling out of control on a foreign exchange student with dietary requirements and an attitude." "Leader to Anderson: How'r you doin,' Dex?" "Anderson to Leader: I'm OK, I guess. My ego is shot up but I think I can limp back as long as my cash drawer doesn't cut out. I've got plenty of quarters and my drink dispenser is functional." "Leader to Anderson: Good man. Like they told us back at Burger Academy: 'Any order you can walk away from is a good one.' Bring 'er on home, Dex."
	LATER, IN THE MANAGER'S LOUNGE hidden deep beneath the restaurant under 50 feet of solid granite, a dejected Rusty Denton was debriefed on the lunch-hour mission: "Darn it! If only I'd done more," she said, as she ran her fingers through her fiery tresses and grimaced. "You did everything you could," replied General Manager Buzz Hendricks. "If McGregor hadn't disobeyed, he'd be off that order by now. He's probably still putting in special requests. "Don't patronize me, Buzz!" Rusty shot back. "He was only a kid and my responsibility. I should have provided closer sales cover. Instead, I froze colder than a Soft-Serve. I'm not even fit to command a dumpster crew, let alone an elite fryer squadron."
"TRY NOT TO SECOND-GUESS YOURSELF," consoled the seasoned senior manager. "He knew the risks when he enlisted. What's important is, the crew needs you. The last thing we want is a bunch of hot-headed sandwich jockeys dodging incoming customers without leadership. Now get on up there." "Thanks, Buzz. I can always count on you," Rusty called back as she grabbed the lift to head topside. Suddenly, a klaxon sounded and the bunker was bathed in an eerie glow. Yellow alert - a tour bus full of cranky seniors! Rusty knew that the team was being scrambled from breaks and the restroom. She had a job to do. Burgerland needed her.
NEXT MONTH: Rusty and her crew bravely respond to an onslaught of imperious octogenarians in "Burger Wars: Menace of the Geriatrics."	ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Robert "Colonel Bob" McFeeney spent the war stationed in front of a TV set, where he manned a remote control. He dedicates this story to the valiant men and women in uniform who stand watch at drive-thrus everywhere, ready to serve him a Bacon Double Cheeseburger at a moment's notice.