In the Veggie Tales video, Minnesota Cuke, there’s a “Silly Song with Larry” entitled Pizza Angel. In Pizza Angel, Larry laments the fact that he ordered a pizza and sadly, it never arrived. (In case you’re curious, we learn as the song progresses that the delivery-gourd ate the pizza.)
French Pea angels accompany Larry as he belts out the refrain,
Pizza Angel, please come to me,
Tomato sauce and cheese so goo-oo-ey.
Pizza Angel, I’m on my knees,
You’re my number one pie from Sicily.
Yesterday, I could completely relate to Larry. Even though no delivery-gourd ate my pizza.
Sundays are often my day to go out and have some “Mommy Time.” Without children. My wonderful husband sends me out for a couple hours while he handles the whirlwinds kids. I can run errands, browse in a bookstore, even find a quiet corner of a parking lot where I can catch a quick car-nap. (And yes, I’ve done all those things.)
Yesterday, was a mix: I ran an errand, browsed a bit, and then decided to top off my afternoon with a slice of pizza from a local pizza joint. I’d never been in this particular pizza joint, but I’d heard they had good pizza and decided to investigate. Purely for the sake of my family, of course, since if the pizza wasn’t good, I could save us all the hassle of going there in the future. I’m self-sacrificing like that.
I parked my car, noticed the neon Open sign on the pizza place, and headed for the door.
Right in front of the restaurant sat what some might call a “muscle car,” complete with deeply tinted windows, parked in the fire lane. I grumbled a little to myself, as I had to walk around the car to get to the sidewalk. Hmph. Parking in the fire lane. Can’t these people be bothered to park in a regular spot like the rest of us?
Oh well, no dwelling on that; on to the pizza!
As I approached the counter, a friendly-looking girl asked what I would like. “One slice of pizza to go, please.” I said.
“Okay, that’ll be right up.”
Excellent.
But…
Before she could even reach for a plate, a person who looked all manager-like interrupted:
“Um, we don’t sell slices after 2:00.”
“Oh,” I stammered. “Okay…”
“In fact,” he went on, “We don’t sell slices on Sundays either. Just whole pizzas.”
The girl, who’d led me to believe I’d soon be eating a scrumptious piece of cheese-laden goodness, looked sheepish. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot about that.”
“That’s okay… I’ll just…come back another time.”
Head low, bummed out, and feeling much like Larry the Cucumber must have felt, I left the building.
I walked around the fire-lane-parked car (again) and plodded to my own. Suddenly, a Pizza Angel young guy called to me:
“Hey! You want a slice? I’ll sell you a slice.”
It was the muscle car guy. Offering me some of his pizza.
I asked him if he was sure, but I was already crossing back to the sidewalk.
“Yeah. My girlfriend and I got a large pizza, and there’s only two of us. It’s lame that they don’t sell slices on Sunday, so… have one of ours.”
I ducked back inside the pizza place, where the friendly girl graciously provided a paper plate. (And the manager had the nerve to joke with a big grin, “We don’t give those out on Sundays either!” Ha. Ha-ha. Funny guy.)
Muscle Car Guy offered my me choice of slices, which I gratefully accepted.
“Thank you! How much?” I asked, pulling a few bills from my jeans pocket.
“Nothin’.”
“No, really, let me give you something.”
“Nah. Enjoy the pizza.” He climbed into the car with the deeply-tinted windows, waved, and drove away.
What nice kids. Even if they did park in the fire lane.
Oh, and the pizza was very good. I’m sure we’ll be back. Maybe not on a Sunday, though.
Lessons learned (though it seems I must learn some lessons over and over again):
1. I shouldn’t be so quick to grumble about people.
2. You can make someone’s day with a little generosity. Those Pizza Angels sure made mine.
This is a fabulous story and life lesson! I love it…
Looks can be deceiving, can’t they!? What a great reminder.
What a great story! You know if that had been an old Ford Ranger with a very rusted fender, chances were the guy wouldn’t have been so quick to share his pizza with you! (Nah, Mike would be happy to!)
Love that story! That’s great.
I also love that you accepted it. Not everyone would, and you allowed him to show some generosity (and bust up some stereotypes).
That’s great! And good for you for letting them bless you. I would have been too wimpy to accept.
What a great story! We’ve been talking alot lately about snap judgements we make about people, and the conversations have come to an all-time high with the impending adoption of a little one with special needs. I’m gonna read this one to my kids. Thanks for sharing!
Come by and see our cutie – good news finally to share again!!!!
Wow what a great story! Glad you got your pizza and thanks for the Veggie Tales – reference – our family is hugely fanatical about Veggie Tales and we’ll definitely have to rent that one!
Seems I’ve spent my whole life re-learning your two lessons. It’s something I ALWAYS need to keep hearing. Thanks for sharing.
Sundays are “my day” as well. After church I clothe myself with the “have to get the family ready for a new week” excuse and head out the door. I usually get groceries at a couple of places, but also stop at the book store, craft store, wherever I fancy!
oo love the Pizza Angel song! Glad you had a pizza angel in your life yesterday! What a great lesson.
I loved reading this story!!!
That is such a great story. There are so many ways we can reach out to others if only we are on the lookout!
The Pizza Angel sometimes leaves entire boxes of pizza in a conference room or the employee break room. I like it when that happens but this kind of Pizza Angel is even sweeter!
And not selling slices after 2PM or on a Sunday is just a silly policy.
Aw. I love that – a muscle car-drivin’ pizza angel.
I love veggie tales and I love you story of your personal pizza angel.
Great story. Bless you for allowing him to do his random act of kindness. Not everyone would have accepted his offer.
Obviously a manager and not the owner… otherwise he would have left out the lame joke, or would have found some way to keep from losing a future customer.
I am glad the “rude” kids shared their pizza, and I am thinking of your husband with Larry’s “Elvis” styled hair singing that song as you mope out of the restaurant.
HA HA!
I thought Katrina’s husband was a short bald guy?
Cute post…I’ve learned more than twice to not judge a book by its cover. Hard lesson to remember sometimes.
Nice tie-in with the Veggie Tales. Got anything about a hairbrush???
Thank you.
i love the pizza angel song! It’s my absolute favorite Silly Song. It sounds so catchy and sad and Oldies all at the same time. and i love the little pea angels. oh and how larry jumps through the clouds to get to the door.
That’s neat. It seems like the slice pizza rule is a little weird though, I might have not handled that so nicely.
I had an encounter with someone who parked in a fire lane a few weeks ago, but it didn’t turn out this well. It WAS A reminder that I’m a sinner, too.