Burgers and Bait

Burgers and Bait…

So the sign displayed on that fateful June afternoon in front of a small metal shack. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon that I saw this sign on hwy 22 heading to Lake Whitney, northwest of Hillsboro, where we were staying at a lake house with family. I knew in my Stomach and my Heart that our paths would again cross soon. (we were coming back that same way in less than 24 hours).

I prepped for the return to this mysterious bistro of sorts by eating a large homeade breakfast of eggs, choc chip pancakes, bacon and mountain dew and coffee around 830, made by our wonderful hostess Bonnie (my sis n law, dont mess that up kelly) I wanted my stomach to be primed and ready for what may lie ahead on hwy 22, I didnt want to be full as a tick like i was though, so my second stomach would have to be utilized as a late inning reliever in baseball.

We bid farewell to our family as i was carted back into the spacious Buick  We motored in a modern day nomadic caravan with the previously mentioned family towards the scenic I-35 corridor. Suddenly it again appeared and I knew my time was at hand. I broke rank in the caravan and immediately turned towards the iconic BUGERS AND BAIT sign.

Once in the lot there stood a metal shack akin to the backyard storage sheds you can get at walmart or home depot, but a tad bigger. The sign on the front read: “The Burger Shack: Where you can taste the Freshness” I went in alone to order something but didnt know what yet.

As i entered, the smell of cigarette smoke was heavy and you got the feeling that it smelled of that even if no one was lit up. The place was bigger than thought. There were two booths against the righthand wall and two small tables by the booths taking up the bulk of the floor space.Country and texas themed knick-knacks around the room. Two men and a woman were sitting at the table while one man was at the register behind the counter at the back of this still extremely small indoor bazaar of sorts-(details soon) He was finishing the order of the woman infront of me and then barked out to the woman sitting at the table just 3 feet from him…”Hey where the sacks?!” She replied with a curt, ” I dont know,”"you didnt bring em from home?!” was the very interesting reponse by the cashier.

He then asked me what I wanted in a detached sort of way and after looking at the menu of many burgers (1,2,3 story/veggie/bbq/bacon) mexican dishes (burritos, taco salad, tamales) and breakfast (again burritos and eggs) I decided on the 2 story with cheese all the way(i couldve added, swiss, avacado or green chiles as well)This included Shack Sauce according to the menu board above the cluttered counter area, hiding the grill and oven behind it. He then put the order slip up on a holder and loudly (perhaps sarcastically) proclaimed to the lady at the table…ORDER UP, with his eyes set on her as she came behind the counter to prepare my order with the finest of care and freshest of local ingredients, no doubt.

I then retreived my very patient wife Kristy and son Truman to come in while we waited for the 2 story with Shack Sauce. As I looked around I noticed some interesting things that in ny normal world wouldnt fit but in here, was perfect. A shelf by the register counter that had everything from candy to mayonnaise and bbq sauce, to of all things red blooded and sacred…two boxes of ammunition for sale stacked in front of one of a few scattered American Flags. 

There was also a handwritten sign on a manilla folder hangin high by the regisgter…NO TABS ALLOWED!! NO PERSONAL CHECKS!! and it made me wonder what spurred that sign to be made in a not so calm and steady way. after perusing some old Texas Monthlys that were perched atop a vintage ice box my fresh burger was ready. We thanked her and headed out.

It was  seeping thru the plain white paper and I could feel the heat and sure the freshness as I unwarapped it. While driving up I-35 the burger was absolutely everything I could have hoped. Really big, fresh, piping hot, good fixins, melty cheese and the Shack Sauce was a perfect touch (1000 island of course). The meat and the bun were grilled wonderfully and I didnt come close to eating the rest of the day. How am I supposed to go to Chilis after this?