Quiznos Night

Most crews have some sort of little get-together that revolves around food. Even lightweights have these little traditions, even if to commiserate over trying to lose weight. (Thankfully, I don't have too many rowers with this problem.) Most teams find someplace that serves a lot of grub and some night of the week becomes food night.

For the FC guys, it's Quiznos on Tuesdays.

I don't pretend to know how much money they spend or even how much they eat. Knowing high school boys, it must be a lot. Given that the manager at Quiznos has changed their hours for the boys and put on another staff person, it must be quite a lot.

I stopped by Quiznos tonight, getting there as the boys were leaving. I have to pick up Will on Tuesdays, so I usually can't go out with the boys. Tonight, Emily had a client, so I got the boy and fought the traffic back to Route 8.

The manager and I had a conversation about the kids. I introduced myself as somebody somewhat responsible for their behavior and asked her if there had ever been any problems with them. She responded with enthusiasm, noting that the boys made her bottom line look good on Tuesdays, were always polite, didn't overstay their welcome and even cleaned up after themselves. (Any parents reading must be gnashing their teeth, knowing how impossible it is to get teenage boys to clean anything up.)

The manager also mentioned that the guys now call ahead so she knows to hold one extra staff person later and heat up some meat beforehand. It makes her life easier, and the boys like having the food come a little quicker. Her only request was the guys call every week one way or another so she knows to keep that extra staff on or not.

Funny, isn't it? A squad that has a "bad-boy" reputation giving such courtesy to a fast-food manager. People in these positions are usually disrespected by everyone in our society, down to the guys that pick up the garbage out back every night.

I thanked her for showing welcome to a bunch of teenagers (not always the most welcome customers anywhere) and gave her my number, in case there ever were any issues. I suppose that I'll start getting calls on the water on Tuesdays from Quiznos: "What's their order?"

Categories: FC, Teamwork, Rowing