ave hot dog affiliation confirmed
Posted 1st August 2006 by tomTrabant Chai Lounge
Some time ago, I speculated about the affiliation of the Ave Hot Dog: whether it was an advertising agent of Matt’s or just an independent wiener.
Tonight, I walked into Matt’s because, while past the other day, I noticed that they were once again offering a Chicago-style for the very Chicago-like price of $1.99. When I walked in, the locally-famous, down-on-her-luck, trans woman who hangs out on the Ave was inside talking to the two, young, post-fraternity gentlemen working behind the counter. I started putting my stuff on the counter, thinking nothing of her being there except that I have seen her in a while — and that I’ve not been on the Ave much in the last 6 weeks. By the time I had taken off my jacket and approached to order, she had left.
It wasn’t until after I had paid for my order and sat down to wait that the light of Divine Providence shone down upon me and illuminated me with an answer to my question.
At the back of the restaurant, in the little nook that led to a supply room or some-such, on top of a waist-high stack of cardboard boxes lay the red and yellow pelt of the Ave Hot Dog! It was horizontal with its head pointing toward the dining area. There was a big red X atop its bald, meaty head where the fabric came together. Though lying neatly, it was a bit deflated since nobody was inside. It looked very similar to the discarded skin of some animal that molts and leaves behind the skin to look like a somewhat smaller copy of itself.
To tell the truth, it seemed a bit eery. I am so used to seeing the Ave Hot Dog extremely animated, even athletic what with how that woman was always running in place while wearing the pelt. So seeing it so lifeless did not invoke sadness, mind you, only caution and mild trepidation. It looked like it was sleeping — or maybe like it wanted me to think that it was sleeping. Whatever, the case, it certainly did not want to be disturbed and I was certainly not going to walk over and get a close-up peek. I half expected it to spring to life on its own.
Some time ago, Mr. Cthulhie relayed to me a story in which he overheard the woman speaking to somebody on the street and telling that person that she just lost her job. Was it the Hot Dog job that she lost? If so, what was she doing inside Matt’s today? More importantly, what is the story of the pelt? Is it possessed? Does it subsume its wearer and cause him/her to perform unseemly acts? Whatever the case, I know that I am going to be extra cautious as I peek into the shop on my walk home later.
