Wednesday, January 28, 2009

You Don't Want No . . .

"You don't want no cheese on that?" I just stared at the Wendy's Menu. I wasn't quite sure what the voice on the intercom said. My daughter, Emily and I were sitting in the drive through, grabbing some lunch to go.
Finally I said, "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"You don't want no cheese on that?"
I replied, "No thank you. No cheese."

Then I looked over at Emily. She was sitting in the passenger seat slightly shaking her head. A few hours later, I couldn't really remember anything about the lunch. I think maybe the fries were a little wimpy, and limp-like, but I honestly don't remember too much about the lunch. I do remember that the people were friendly at the two windows, first to pay and then to get our food. Emily didn't complain, and I soon forgot about it, so the food must have been OK.

Three days later though, that voice on the intercom has stuck with me. I tried to put a picture to that voice Somewhere along the line, she could have been in my class. She obviously spent a lot of years, sitting in language arts classes. It was a nasty, snowy day, and she was at work, so she probably was a hard worker. She was friendly, and polite, with good customer service in mind.

I have so many questions I would like to ask her.

Did your teachers ever mention double negatives?
Did you like school?
How did you do in school?
What kind of grades did you get in language arts?
Do you like to read?
How did you do on the "test?"
Did you graduate from high school?
Where did you go to school?
Does the Wendy's manager ever say anything about how you talk?
How long have you worked there?
Did your parents ever talk to you about your grammar?
Do you have kids?
Do you help them with their school work?
Did you ever think about college?
Do you think you might be a manager some day?
Did you ever consider that your dialect might limit you?
Have you traveled?
Who do you look up to?
Do you think how you speak matters?

I don't remember anything about that sandwich except I "didn't want no cheese on it." I sure have thought a lot about that voice on the intercom, though. I think there is a good chance that we will be having a few conversations about this in Reading Workshop.



Anonymous said...

"I ain't got no response for that."

Anonymous said...

That's a lot of questions!If she was in your class I don't think she would talk like that.

Mr. McGuire said...


Thanks for the comment. I hope you are right. One thing for sure--we definitely will be talking about this in the weeks to come.

Mr. McGuire said...

Heather's dad,

I think we may need to schedule you back to school for a few days. :0

Anonymous said...

ain`t is not a word Heathers dad you probably know that by now.

Anonymous said...

I do that all the time. On Saturday I went to Cracker Barrel and there was a girl that sounded like Jessie, but I knew it probably wasn't her because she was much taller. The reason why thought it might of been her is because we haven't been in school for a while and she could've gotten taller.

Anonymous said...

Yummy!!!That really sounds good.

Wow Mr.McGuire that is a really good point that you are making. I always get like super aggravated when i go to lets say Taco Bell and they never give me what i ask for lets say i ask for extra sour cream and they give me a whole bag of HOT sauce.

All day after i went to Taco Bell i was thinking about and i was wondering. if she was being polite

Anonymous said...

Mr. McGuire

I think you have a lot of questions. I don't think she will answer every question you have. You should narrow it down a little don't you think. I would never answer that much questions.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what to write about on the comment. If someone did that to me I don't know what I would, say I would be so mad. I would go talk to the manger.

Mr. McGuire said...

Destiny and Bailey,

I am not sure that you understand the point. It was not what the girl said, but the grammar used as she said it. My point was that I wondered how her lack of language skills would change her life. I think it probably would limit her chances for success.

Anonymous said...

The thing is some people go from Wendy's to business worker. But I do agree with you, people should use good grammer. Also if they're slacking off, it just show's they don't really care.

Anonymous said...

If the manager tested the people who trys to get a job there by the way they talk she would be looking for a new job by now. I'm serious, she would be.