By Renee Fasanaro
MOUNTAINEER: What do you like most about your job?
MARIE: “The kids, really, the kids. And I like the cooking.”
CHUCK: “Eating.”
MARIE: “He does like eating.”
CHUCK: “I like the pretzels, and I like yelling people’s numbers.”
M’NEER: Is there anything you don’t like?
CHUCK: “Ungrateful customers. The majority are nice but some people are rude. There’s always a sore thumb. Mostly I just like seeing the smile on someone’s face as they bite into one of my freshly deep-fried jalapeno poppers.”
M’NEER: Tell me a funny story.
MARIE: “When they’re trying to act not drunk, they’re really funny, tripping over chairs and slurring their words. I’ve been there, done that! Every night we laugh at somebody. It’s so common I can’t remember! But sometimes when they come in that way, it’s so late, it doesn’t seem funny at the time.”
CHUCK: “This is making our career. We’re both about to leave, you know. Imagine what the buttery will be like without us.”
MARIE: “It’s true. I’m retiring and Chuck is graduating.”
M’NEER: Do you have any retirement plans, Marie?
CHUCK: “Brandy and coffee.”
MARIE: “A glass of wine. [laughs] Maybe something part-time. I gotta work, I gotta do something. After working so much, I can’t not work. I’ll enjoy my grandchildren, and go on trips. I already have two trips planned for this summer.”
CHUCK: “She’ll just go back to being a full-time loving grandmother…”
