"Nathan's Famous"~ for PicFic Tuesday 10/20

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

He got in line behind the dozens of people gathering in front of the Nathan’s Famous, turning up the collar of his black trench coat to help hide his face. Cursing himself; he forgotten to wear a hat.

The last thing he needed was for someone to recognize him here. It wasn't that far from Brighton Beach and those who knew him.

One by one the customers exited with their take home orders, and though not a fan of hot dogs, the smell of them and the sauerkraut was making this Russian’s mouth water.

Why he’d promised to do this was beyond him, but a promise was a promise. He'd lost the bet and now he had to pay the piper...in this case Napoleon.

Finally it was his turn to place his order.

“Yeah Mistah what’ll it be?” The girl behind the counter spoke to him in a thick Brooklyn accent.

Kuryakin huffed. “Let me have two...no three hot dogs with onions and catsup…”

“That’s it? No fries?”

“Ummm, yes an order of fries with, ummm, chili and cheese. And let me have four hot dogs with mustard and sauerkraut. Could you please wrap them in extra aluminum foil?” He gazed at the menu with surprise thinking hot dogs were the only thing sold but saw there was pizza, corn on the cob, lobster and shrimp rolls, clams both on the half-shell and fried, burgers, soups, chow mein on a bun, and even frog’s legs.

“Sure, no problem.”

“Actually, please hold the hot dog order and instead may I have the lobster and shrimp rolls, fried clams and an order of frogs legs.”

“Jeez Mista, you really want the frog legs?”

“Are they not good?”

“I dunno, I nevah had ‘em. They just sound sort of nasty.” She made a face.

“You should try them sometime. They actually taste a bit like chicken.”

“If you say so.” The girl repeated his order and in no time it was ready.

Illya parked himself at a nearby bench and devoured his feast. Nodding his approval as he periodically made a yummy sound.  When finished he wiped his mouth with several paper napkins, tossing them in a trash bin.

He headed back over to Nathan’s, getting in a much shorter line this time. When it was his turn the girl at the counter was surprised to see him again so soon.

“Wow that was fast...you ate all that food?”

“Yes and it was quite good,  now if I may have two hot dogs with onions and catsup and four with sauerkraut and mustard. Please wrap…”

“Yeah I remember, wrap them in extra foil."

Illya received his order in minutes, with everything put securely into a paper sack. He headed off to the car, getting onto the Belt Parkway, and from there he’d make his way back to headquarters with his precious cargo.

He arrived roughly 36 minutes later, having hit little traffic for once. After receiving his ID badge from Wanda Illya made his way up to Medical, though along the way he was accosted by people who wanted to know what he had in the bag.

“Mmm, that smells good mate,” Mark Slate sidled up to the Russian. “Care to share a bit of what you have, I’m starved.”

“Sorry Mark this is a special delivery.”

Illya stepped from the elevator, heading the private room where his partner lay in bed with one leg encased in a heavy cast, and raised up by a support.

“I have returned from my errand of mercy,” he announced.

“About time,” Napoleon groused,” what took you so long, I’m starved.”

“You could always eat what they serve here. There was...umm, traffic on the Belt Parkway. You know what it is like this time of day.”

“I’d rather starve, now come on where’s my food?”

“Patience my friend,” Illya opened the bag, putting two dogs on Solo’s bed tray.“As ordered, two Nathan’s with the onions and catsup and they are still warm.”

“And yours? You agreed you’d eat with me.” Solo grinned, knowing his partner’s dislike of the this particular American food; one of the few things edible the Russian avoided.

“I have them here.” Illya took out two more hot dogs, setting them on the table beside his partner, but quickly ducked the bag to the floor.

Together they peeled back the aluminum foil encasing their meal.

“Ahhh, this is making my day,” Napoleon said as he took a large bite.

Illya held one hot dog in his hand, but hesitated.

“Come on tovarisch, a bet is a bet. What’s happened to that infamous Kuryakin appetite?”

“Ummm, well…” He hesitated saying he’d already eaten as that was what really caused the delay  arriving with Napoleon’s hot dogs. “All right, I will eat it as promised.” It did after all smell quite good.

Illya took a bite, followed by another and another, until it was completely gone. He opened the second one and dug into that, while Napoleon was still on his first.

“Pretty good after all tovarisch?”

Kuryakin nodded in agreement, not saying a word as he was busy devouring the second hot dog.  He lifted the bag from the floor, taking out the others and unwrapped them.

“You bought four for yourself?” Napoleon squinted.” Why would you buy so much of something you said you didn’t like?”

Food still in Illya’s mouth, he gave his muffled answer.” Just in case I did like them. If not, they would not go to waste as you or someone else here would most likely eat them.”

By the time Napoleon finished his second hot dog, Kuryakin was swallowing the last bit of his fourth.

“You know, you keep eating like that and one day it’s all going to catch up with you,”Napoleon warned.

“It was only four hot dogs,” Illya lied. “Not much meat and the rolls are minimal.  Not very filling when compared to a nice steak dinner with, as you say, all the fixin’s? Though I must say after trying it...Nathan’s is not bad at all.  Let me know when you want more hot dogs and I will get them for you.”

“You don’t have to do that. It was part of a bet and you’re not obliged to get me more.”

“I know, but it is the least I can do for my partner while he is laid up,” Illya canted his head to one side, giving his partner a most sincere look.

Napoleon studied him for a moment, suspecting there was more to Kuryakin’s offer regarding Nathan’s Famous than meets the eye. Maybe he was visiting Little Russian over in nearby Brighton Beach, so going for the hot dogs would be a convenient excuse.

Knowing the Russian, he doubted Illya would ever fess up. Regardless of his true motive; it would be nice to get more Nathan’s Famous, and that made Napoleon smile.

The best hot dogs in New York coming special delivery and being given a sponge bath by one of the pretty nurses here in Medical...life was good.

Comments

[otherhawk.livejournal.com]

Napoleon's right, one day it really will all catch up with him... very nice story, but what was the bet?

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Hmm, didn't really think of what the bet could be. Any suggestions? lol!

[otherhawk.livejournal.com]

Eh, no idea...but I admit I initially assumed that Napoleon had broken his leg while winning the bet...

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Now that's an idea...need to think more on this. :D

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Life is good--Nathan's and women to bath him--oh yea

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

It's the little things that make Solo happy. Thanks for the comment.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

A good spy should always have a contingency plan, and having extra hotdogs in case he like them was an excellent plan. As was the story :-)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D So we're now down to whale blubber as one of the few things Illya dislikes. It's possible though that he may be a bit of a culinary snob and only like Nathan's hotdogs... and the other edibles they sell there. "D

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

He'll have to conduct an experiment and try other hotdogs from elsewhere. For purely scientific reasons of course :-)

(I'm going to be late with my story. I haven't had a chance to think about it properly yet)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Yes, an important study indeed. Maybe Illya can get his findings published in a scientific journal, after careful analysis that is. "D

Don't care if your story is late, as long as you post one! Ysy!

Me, I'm struggling with Halloween story, but the mood music is helping. :D

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Nathan's are the best, in my opinion, and in Illya's opinion now also.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

For a while the Nathan's in our local mall was sneaking in a second rate hot dog, then it was sold and they started serving the good dogs again. But still the best are the dogs served in Coney Island...where they originate.

Another great hot dog is called 'Best"...cooked up as a dirty water dog and they're phenomenal. Been eating those since I was a kid.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Used to be able to buy 'Best" hot dogs around here, but no more. Cleveland stadium used to serve them. Alas, their hot dogs suck now. At least there's one Nathan's stand in the stadium but now I can't afford to go to the games. Can't win.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

That's a shame. You can't get Nathan's or Best in the food market? I can get both of them as all the grocery stories carry them here.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Nathan's is available here. I just don't buy them often.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Oh okay, that's good that you can get them.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Nathan's Famous... it sounds good, but how on earth could Illya eat that much? I think the second installment of this story should be him suffering from his over indulgence ;)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

He has a boundless appetite, thank goodness. Perhaps though it may catch up with him in the distant future? lol.

Thanks for the comment!