Chicken Sandwich

“Popeye’s does have red beans,” I texted to Tim.

“Cool!!!” He responded.

I had been on a walk with Mom earlier in the day when we encountered Tim and his wife, Sandy. Tim said he’d been telling people how good Palmer’s, where we got sandwiches and soup recently, was. Mom told them that we were going to Popeye’s later. “Is that where they have red beans?” Sandy asked. I didn’t know about red beans, but I told her it’s the place with fish and the chicken sandwich everyone is after.

So there we were — Mom, my brother Andy, and I — in a long line winding around Popeye’s waiting to go through the drive-thru. I like fast food for the attributes outlined in George Ritzer’s The McDonaldization of Society. One thing is control, such as limited options on the menu; when I order food, I don’t want to be overwhelmed with options. Another thing is predictability; I like to know that what if I order a chicken sandwich today, it’s going to be the same as the chicken sandwich I had last time. I just want to say a number and get what I expect to get.

This was the first time I partook in the Chicken Sandwich War that began last year between Popeye’s and Chick-fil-A. The last time I was at Popeye’s, they were out of chicken sandwiches, and I stand against Chick-fil-A on principle. But the sandwich was back at Popeye’s, and I admit that it’s pretty good, though I got the spicy option and it has given me heartburn.