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They Had To Shut The Joint Down For Two Days Afterwards

· 3 min read

It was the late 1990s, high‑schooler‑turned‑cash‑register‑hero, and a burger joint that could have been a sitcom set. I was still in class, juggling a lunch break and a job at a popular fast‑food franchise. The layout was the classic: a big lobby, a dining area, a drive‑through that never stopped, and an indoor playground that was basically a kid‑version of a nightclub with slides and a ball pit. I was standing behind the counter, taking orders, when the chaos started.

The Unlikely Villain: Stewie​

Enter Stewie, the fry cook who apparently had a problem with the manager’s “no restroom breaks during rush hour” policy. Twice he tried to sneak a bathroom break and was denied. He stormed back to the kitchen, grumbling, and then… something happened. After a few minutes of me drowning in fries, I saw him walk past me, not towards the restroom, but straight into the main dining area. Then he vanished through the glass door that led to the indoor playground. I watched him reappear, this time heading straight for the bathrooms.

The manager came running, asking if I’d seen Stewie. I told him, and he dashed to the restrooms—only to find the place empty except for staff. The whole building was suddenly a ghost town. The manager, realizing the situation, locked the doors, turned off the lights, and the entire crew made their way to the lobby. That’s when a mysterious stench hit us all.

The Great Dookie Trail​

What followed was a trail of doom that went from the lobby, through the dining area, into the playground, up the kiddie slide, and out the handicap‑access door next to the restrooms. The culprit? Stewie, who apparently had a loose bowel and chose to “share” his misfortune with everyone except the bathrooms. The trail was everywhere—except where it belonged.

The manager, probably still in a hurry to get the place closed, didn’t notice until it was too late. The restaurant stayed shut for two days, the playground was closed longer, and the ball pit had to be replaced. I, a seventeen‑year‑old still in school, clocked out before midnight and left the chaos behind. I’ve never seen Stewie again, but he’s my hero… for a very specific reason.

Comments​

Stewie should have just told the manager, “I gotta go,” end of story. You don't ask, you go.

I hope he wasn't fired.

I never saw him at work again after that but I can’t say for certain if he quit that night or got fired. I still went to the same school and passed him in the hallways and whatnot for the remainder of the year but I never actually spoke to him outside of work. The sliding down into the ball pit was what took it over the top for me.

Mad respect to Stewie, wherever he may be.

Before I read, would someone please tell me if the gross thing involves vomit and/or bugs/worms? Thank you in advance.

TL;DR​

A teenage fry cook named Stewie, denied restroom breaks, decided to unleash a toilet‑trouble trail through a burger joint’s lobby, dining area, and playground. The manager locked the doors, the restaurant shut for two days, and the ball pit had to be replaced. The author never saw the culprit again, but still thinks of him as a hero. 🤣🚽🍔