Be Kind to the Human Bean

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Bean fun.

Though my competition was on the young side, they were aggressive. So, to get the attention of the free sample guy at the Jelly Belly warehouse tour store in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, I pulled out the big guns: the beer-ordering skills I honed back in college. At 5’3″ and cute, but not bartender-stopping cute, it often took some work to get a refill. The under four-foot set I was battling in order to place a free sample order for myself and my nieces will do just fine at dollar beer nights.

I stepped up to the counter, planted my feet firmly, trained my eyes on the free sample guy’s head, and tried to look sweet but determined. With three counters of drawers surrounding him, sample guy was constant motion. But, after pulling a sour neon inchworm from the drawer in front of me, he lifted his head just enough and I pounced.

“Chili mango. Toasted marshmallow. Booger. Sour trouts.”

He didn’t blink at the combo. Instead, the whirling dervish of candy simply stopped. And started singing. For a second, he ceased being the candy man. He was a robed member of a gospel choir. He was a man singing like nobody was watching. He was all peace in the midst of sugar overload (ours, not his).

I didn’t realize it but I guess some surprise showed on my face. He asked if I hated his singing. “No no,” I replied. “You made my day.” With that, a broad grin took over his face, he reached out to touch my arm, gave a big laugh, and, singing, swirled away to tackle the chili mango toasted marshmallow booger sour trouts order.

I left with an even greater appreciation for the tourism workers of America–and their coping skills.

And, of course, the sugar high from hell.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/b0jangles/ / CC BY 2.0

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