Gary and I had an after-work snuggle. It was an extended snuggle (not a bladder-infecting snuggle, but still enjoyable). I was already in my fleece pajamas, Gary was dressed in 'Mormon' underwear and a t-shirt from his "Leisure" collection. (He has "Outside," "Leisure," "Sleep," and "Noseblower" T-shirts.)
"Damn," I realized, "I forgot to pick up my birth-control pills on the way home."
"I can go get them for you," he said, not moving, not opening his eyes, not meaning it at all.
"No, I'll go. Only I'll have to put on clothes. And underwear."
"I'll go. I'll just have to pull on jeans."
From there it turned into a negotiation of who would have to put on the most clothes, and then how few clothes we could wear outside. And then negotiating the least amount of clothing required to go through the Walgreen's drive through. And then the Sonic drive-through, because hell, we were going low-class, and what is lower-class than a barely-dressed couple with their dog hanging his head out the car window as they pick up birth control and tater tots?
(As it played out, I wore no underwear or bra, my fleece pajama top, jeans, and slippers. Gary was fully dressed by the time he left the house. With a belt, even.)
Still, there we were, hicking it up at the Sonic. We'd ordered, and the total came to $15.72, and Gary was thumbing through his cash.
"Should I just give him a $20?"
(We are at Sonic.)
"We are at Sonic," I said flatly.
"Well, he's still bringing us our food."
"You want to tip the Sonic guy?" Not quite as flat. Kind of shrieky.
"We tip the Applebee's Carside-to-Go waitresses."
(The internet had sided with him on this. Evidently you tip $2-$3 dollars. Gary of course tips $5 for a muffin.)
We compromised. The Sonic "waiter" (cough) got $18 and told to keep it. He snorted his thanks derisively.
So what do you think? Do you tip the help AT THE SONIC? Put me in my place if you see fit.
I DO tip the sonic waitpeoples. More if they're on roller skates.
Fat stacks if they let ME wear the roller skates.
No skates? two bucks, tops.
Posted by: Shania | April 28, 2010 at 07:12 AM
I've never been to a Sonic. Or a drive-through pharmacy. They just don't exist around here.
Posted by: magpie | April 28, 2010 at 09:56 AM
So, how much did you end up paying for that "cuddle"? and is it legal in your state? ;-)
[a friend of Magpie]
Posted by: Teresa | April 28, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Gah! I'm always torn by this question too. I heard that Sonic employees get minimum wage plus tips and also that the ones who wear roller skates get paid extra. So I usually don't tip. I pay by credit card at the sign - mine doesn't have a drive thru - and so I can skirt the issue.
Posted by: Amy_in_Stl | April 28, 2010 at 01:02 PM
I don't know what Sonic is, and the fact that you can go ANYWHERE and have them bring food to your window is insanely cool (do they really wear roller skates or was that just cruel hyperbole?). Do you just live in another country, or, like, in the fifties?
Posted by: allison | April 28, 2010 at 03:02 PM
We tip at Sonic. but we also live in NYC where you are expected to tip for EVERYTHING.
Posted by: Erin G. | April 28, 2010 at 03:48 PM
They don't wear roller skates at our local Sonic and we always go through the drivethru, so tipping is not an issue. However, now I really want tater tots and a cream pie milk shake, dammit.
And does it count that I'm not wearing a bra if I'm also wearing a "I [picture of Godzilla] Tokyo" t-shirt? (I interpret that as "I stomp-like-Godzilla-all-over Tokyo". And now I want to watch Godzilla while eating my tater tots and drinking my milkshake. Who gave you this power over my mind?)
Posted by: Sherri | April 28, 2010 at 05:32 PM
I've tipped at Sonic a couple times, but really, it's a fast food place. Tipping should not be expected. I very, very rarely do it.
Posted by: Caroline | April 28, 2010 at 08:10 PM
Shania- Damn! Gary's right?
Magpie - Yeah, and you've got some beggie called Ramps. Weird.
Teresa (hi, Magpie's friend)- Cuddles are okay in Missouri! Oral sex was illegal up till 2003, though. Not that we did that. So. Hi.
Amy in StL - I didn't even know you could pay at the sign!
Allison (hi to you too!)- Sonic is one of the Southern things that made it as far North as St. Louis at about the time Krispy Kreme donuts did. And I've only read about the roller-skate Sonics; evidently it's a franchise and each can do what they want.
Erin G - In NY? I can't picture the drive-up. But then, I'm assuming it's in Manhattan.
Sherri - No rollerskates at ours, and actually no drive-thru, but a drive-up. And you were so peaceful on your blog today.
Caroline - Yeah, but everyone disagrees with us! I already told Gary he was right.
Posted by: TheQueen | April 28, 2010 at 10:05 PM
I gave the kid a buck for bringing me my burger and tater tots, and then regretted it when he never showed up with our extra ketchup. What was wrong with that kid, we might have tipped him more when he came back? Dumb kid.
Our Sonic has the drive-up *and* a drive-through. No roller skates, though.
It's on Route 27 South just before South Middlebush Road, in case any of your readers who live near me suddenly say "Sonic? WHERE'S THERE A SONIC?!", but they probably already know about the one on 22 East in Greenbrook.
Posted by: Tami | April 29, 2010 at 09:51 AM
Sadly, no Sonics in Manhattan. We are so deprived. We ALWAYS go to Sonic whenever we travel outside the city, though. We actively look for them because I L-O-V-E their limeade.
Posted by: Erin G. | April 29, 2010 at 04:29 PM
Tami - I will be prepared when I'm in your neck of the woods.
Erin G. - Okay, this is the third time I've heard about Sonic limeade. I need some.
Posted by: TheQueen | April 29, 2010 at 11:48 PM
We don't do tipping here. It makes travelling overseas a minefield, an absolute minefield: http://travelskite.blogspot.com/2010/01/heres-tip-for-you.html
Posted by: TravelSkite | May 02, 2010 at 01:16 AM