In a Holiday post Joy of the Season, I said the joy of the season for me this year came in the laughter shared with my adult "kids." The absolutely funniest story of their childhood always comes up when we spend time together now.  This story is about Lee when he was a little boy.  He was about 5 years old, in kindergarten, and we had gone out for dinner to Po Folks Restaurant.  If you're not familiar with this chain of home-style cooking restaurants, I'll try to help you get the picture here.

It's a big ole Southern place with dinner plates piled high with down-home favorites like fried chicken, catfish, shrimp, cole slaw, cabbage, cornbread, green beans, black-eyed peas, turnip greens, fried apples, mashed potatoes, corn, sliced tomatoes ... and desserts like your grandma made including cobbler and apple pie a la mode.

The Po Folks motto is "I'm Po but I'm Proud!"  We weren't really "po," but we were a military family with three young children.  The kids loved Po Folks because they could get their favorites like fried chicken, or chicken tenders, or Lee's favorite the "Minner Dinner."  That is the kids' fish dinner with french fries.  He always asked for either the "Drumstick Dinner" or the "Minner Dinner."  That evening on the way to Po Folks, Lee announced that he would like to order from the menu by himself.  This was a big first time event for us!

When the waitress came to our table, everyone ordered in turn with Lee waiting until last to place his first order all by himself.  I had been watching him while the other kids ordered, and I had that nagging feeling that only moms get that something just wasn't going right.  He had an odd expression on his face, but he didn't take his eyes off the menu.  Finally it was his turn ... the waitress patiently waited for his order.  We had prepared her by mentioning that he wanted to place his own order. 

With all eyes and ears attuned to Lee, he slowly began, "I want a drumstick, and fries ...."  He hesitated with that odd expression on his face.  I heard those little warning bells in my head, but I couldn't imagine why this would be difficult for him.  I just knew he would say "Drumstick Dinner" or "Minner Dinner."  Suddenly he looked at the waitress and said, "... and some fried dog balls."

I heard myself scream, "Fried dog balls!"  Everyone within 6 tables heard my scream.  "Lee, what are you talking about?" I asked.  He looked at me with desperation, "You know, those little balls I like... they have something to do with puppies." 

"Hush puppies?" I yelled.  "Yeah, hush puppies!  That's what I want, hush puppies!" Lee exclaimed.  It was too late.  The girls were laughing hysterically and chanting, "fried dog balls... Lee said fried dog balls!!"  I was fighting to keep my composure.  Lee's eyes were desperately locked on mine pleading for understanding and forgiveness.  I looked at the waitress.  Her hands holding pen and order pad were shaking, and her eyes were shut tight fighting back tears of laughter.  She hurried to the kitchen.  Within seconds laughter erupted from the kitchen with such force that every customers' eyes turned in that direction.  I knew I had to get to the restroom before I started laughing uncontrollably. 

I think I re-applied makeup at least twice.  I shut myself up in a stall until I could stop the hysteria, and hoped that Lee would not know that I had betrayed his confidence in me as the only person left on earth who would not laugh at him.  Somehow we got through dinner that evening. 

Unfortunately we couldn't go back to Po Folks for about a year... not that we were banned for life!  Every time we drove past the restaurant one of the girls would say, "Remember when Lee said 'fried dog balls'?"  We couldn't stop laughing over that one for a year.  Eventually Lee came to understand that we weren't really laughing at him, and he joined in the fun with the girls whenever we drove down that street. 

Well, we did go back ... and have gone back to Po Folks Restaurant many times throughout the years.  It's one of our favorite family restaurants, and the owner and manager have become family friends.  If you find yourself in Panama City, FL, you won't find a better place for a good home-cooked meal and great service!

POSTED BY JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA