Denny and Markus Go to In n Out

Denny and Markus sped out of San Francisco in Markus’s Ford pick up, headed for Los Angeles at 3:00am. They had been up all night partying and had to be on Venice Beach in 10 hours. Both were running on Red Bull and no sleep. They had been ride-or-die best friends since kindergarten.

Markus was now a photographer. He had convinced his boss that Denny could be his assistant, so he’d flown Denny to California from New Mexico for a shoot. Denny had a dark tan, brown hair, and steel blue eyes that contrasted his skin. He was 6’1” and had the looks for a model. Denny didn’t have a ton of skills. He also didn’t listen well, so even though he was chiseled, he wasn’t exactly the best model. But magic happened when Denny and Markus got together. And Markus wanted magic for this trip. He was wearing his camera around his neck just in case there was a Denny moment to be captured.

At 7:03 with the sun coming up, the truck was running out of gas. Markus pulled into Kettle City. Kettle City is population < 100. There is farmland, farmland, and fast food. But they have something that most American cities don’t: In and Out Burger. It was right across the street from the gas station.

“I’m going to get us food,” Denny said. Markus thought he was going inside the AMPM. Both of them hopped out of the car. Markus turned to the gas pump. He swiped his card, pressed a few buttons, and started to fill up. He looked up for Denny. The AMPM was closed. Markus scanned the parking lot until he saw Denny sneaking in the back window of the In n Out.

Magic! Markus thought. He grabbed his camera and snapped a shot of the burger joint, with the end of Denny’s leg falling in the back window. A minute went by and the gas tank was full. Markus stashed the gas pump, capped the tank and gunned it out of the station. He pulled in front of the In n Out.

“Hurry up!”

Minutes of sweat later, Denny pushed out of the front door with a sack full of French fries. Markus, camera ready, documented the door bursting open, Denny charging to the truck, knees and arms pumping, fries bursting from the sack, and Denny jumping in the back of the truck.

Markus burned out of Kettle City. He took a few photos of Denny in the rear view mirror eating French fries in the back of the pick up with the sun rising over the In n Out and the freeway in the background. A few miles down the road, Markus pulled over and Denny hopped in the front seat, laughing hysterically. He made it rain French fries on himself, catching fries in his mouth. They got out of the car and took a few scene shots. Denny leaned on the all-American Ford pick up. He held his loot in one hand and a fry over his mouth with the other, eclipsing the sun with it, the highway in tow.

“Now that’s magic,” Markus said. “Forget LA, dude. We got it. Let’s head home and get some sleep. You a fool, boy!”

Denny smiled and reached for a fry. "I may be a fool, but I like it that way.”