Fast food
freaks
find heaven
on a bun
Fast food businesses are as
prominent in this country as
cars on the highways. Mac­
Donalds, A&W, Burger King,
Burgerville, Burger Country,
Mr. Burger, burger, burger,
burger. . .
The “burger joints” serve as
hang outs for teens, lunch
places for on-the-rush business
men, and havens for tired
mothers. Most are tasty, and all I
are convenient. Someone else
does
the
cooking,
and
someone else cleans the mess.
The person who invented
fast food restaurants should be
thanked. It speeds up the way
of life, as if life wasn’t going fast
enough already. More people
are likely to choke on ham­
burger than over a nice quiet
meal at home. Not only that,
indigestion runs higher among
fast food eaters than jiny
others.
Various places use various
“After about a year I got
slogans and gimmicks to grab bored with secretarial work,”
the customers’ eyes and taste Wray said. She then applied
buds. A clown, king, and bear
are just some of the few burger
“celebrities” around. Slogans
like “You Deserve a Break
Today,” “Have It Your Way,”
and others can twist minds until
the customer is so hungry from
trying to figure out the tongue
twisters he ventures out for
some quick energy.
“Can I take your order
please,” says' a pretty girl at the
counter. Ever notice how
young these employees are?
That’s right, fast food fran­
chises employ more teenagers
than any other business. Is it
because they can stay on their
feet longer, or is it because they
never get tired of the food?
Either way, every burger is
made, wrapped, and handled
Like gas stations, burger
by at least two teens before it is
stands are always- located
given to the customer.
across from other burger places
to give people a choice on
which way they want their
The turnover at these places
poison.
is big. At Burger King on
McLoughlin, for example, the
Some people think all fast turnover is 300 percent accor­
foods taste alike; these same ding to store manager Chloe
people can not tell the differen­ Wray.
ce between Coke and Pepsi.
Wray has managed Burger
Different burgers taste different
King for close to two years and
at different burger places.
says she enjoys it. Each mor­
ning at 8:30, she is there
Some burgers come with all opening the store and doing
the trimmings, some have paper work and goes home
tomatoes, some not, some anywhere from 5 to 8 p.m. still
have pickles, and some have doing paper work.
mustard. Some have that
thousand island dressing, and
She managed at Taco Bell
some use mayo and ketchup. when she was 19 and then
Depending on taste, the burger became a secretary for the
connoisseur can always find a University of Oregon Health
burger to his liking somewhere. Services Center.
Page 4
“Yes Vd like a ham­
burger and some fries
please.” “Hey lady I
want a new burger, this
one’s cold.” “Whata ya
mean ya ain’t got no
root beer?”...
for manager at Burger King
and is now store manager.
“I think it’s important foj
kids to know that I I
through some of the J
things they’re going throl
now and it will get better.” I
“I had a choice of either
managing for Burger King or
Kentucky Fried Chicken.” Why
“Burger King is dired
did she pick burgers over fowls?
“I like the food. Besides,” con­ more to little kids,” commej
tinued Wray, “I don’t like to Wray. “Kids tend to bring]
parents in and if they’re trea
cut up chickens.”
right, they’ll want to bring t
Currently, Wray has 30 crew parents back.” Burger I
members, more than 80 per­ caters to the tots by off!
cent under 18. Wray says she them a free toy everytime!
likes to work with teenagers come in. “Besides,” Wray J
because, “I look at them and ' “those kids are our ini
think, ‘Did I do that?’ ” The an­ customers.” Maybe evenfufl
employees.
swer, “Yes.”
Young labor keeps burgers flowing out of fast food chains.
I
Photo by Leanne Lally
Clackamas Community