Captain Ahab had his white whale. Daenerys Targaryen had the Iron Throne. Thanos had the Infinity Stones. I have the broasted pork chop from the Cenex gas station in Hull.
I want one. I’m in the long process, much longer than anticipated, of finding one ever since managing editor Ty Rushing told me to try one while I was in Hull to take pictures for a story three or four weeks ago.
The first time it was in the afternoon. They didn’t have any so I got a cheeseburger instead. I ate it on the drive back to Sheldon and it was better than I anticipated it would be. That made me want my MacGuffin, I mean broasted pork chop, even more.
A few days later I was driving back from taking pictures at a game in Sioux Center. I got to a fork in the road and instead of turning right to go to Sheldon, I went left toward Hull. Unfortunately, they were out of everything because it was around 9 p.m.
Many mortal men would give up at that point. I did not. The next day I got off work early around 5:15 p.m. What a perfect time for some pork chops. Unfortunately, the train passing through Sheldon did not agree. Instead of waiting for the incredibly long train, I figured fate was telling me that wasn’t the right day.
Quick backstory on the next attempt. We had Friday, July 3, off since the next day was Independence Day. I was out of town for the weekend and turned off the air conditioning unit in my apartment. I figured I’d save some cash that way. When I got back on Sunday, July 5, it was sweltering hot in my apartment. I turned the air conditioning temperature way down and set a large box fan to high.
It was so hot, I had to leave my apartment as it slowly cooled down. I thought it was a perfect time to grab that broasted pork chop in Hull. Anyone reading this from Hull probably already knows how this attempt ended. The gas station is closed Sunday, so it ended sadly. I drove back to my hot apartment without the taste of delicious pork to soothe me.
On Monday, July 13, I had to take pictures at the regional softball game in Hull between Western Christian and Sibley-Ocheyedan. Once again it seemed like a perfect opportunity. I was going to be just a few blocks away. Did this story end in success? No, it did not. They were out.
Sometimes stories don’t have a happy ending. Other times they do, but not until the sequel. At this point, I’m 0-for-5. That’s a pretty poor batting average.
Like Charlie Brown kicking a football or Sauron trying to find the one ring in “Lord of the Rings,” I am not going to give up. I will get that broasted pork chop.
The Link LonkJuly 17, 2020 at 03:07AM
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Take 5: The search for a pork chop | Take5 - nwestiowa.com
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