Al watched as his long time friend clean one of the many dirty tables. This time around Sam had 'become' a waiter in New Mexico.
"Hey Sam, over here," Al called out from his position next to the kitchen entrance. Sam looked up and saw Al. He walked over.
"Hey Al," he whispered. "Please tell me you have something for me."
"I do," Al replied. It's October 2, 1996 and you're name is David Smith, a nineteen year old recently hired waiter at a local fast food place. Probably just making minimum wage."
A blonde waitress, the only other person in the now closed restaurant, walked out of the kitchen and with a broom.
"Of course," Al said watching the woman as she walked along, "life is all about balance."
Sam pretended to clear his throat. The blonde waitress then turned to face Sam.
"Hey David," the waitress said, "while you're heading in there, can you grab the dust pan for me? I forgot it in the kitchen."
Sam nodded.
"Sure," he told her. The woman turned back to sweeping.
Sam and Al walked in the kitchen.
"So why am I here?" Sam asked.
"See that rag right there?" Al asked. He pointed to a rag in a very troubling position. "That's our problem. Hurry and get it out."
The rag was inside a frying pan which was still very hot from cooking hamburgers all day.
Sam couldn't believe his eyes. Why in the world is that there? Rushing over, Sam found a cooking utensil and pulled the hot rag out and into the sink.
"I'm glad we came in here," Sam said. "That could have ended very badly!"
"It did, actually."
"What do you mean?" Sam asked.
"Originally I mean," Al said. "That's what Ziggy says you were here for. In the original history, this place went completely up in smoke. The entire place burned down and was ruled an accident--caused by a misplaced rag."
"So the place didn't burn down?"
"Nope," Al replied. "And the waitress out there gets to keep her job to support her child."
A blue light engulfed Sam.