Fiction: Queuing for waffles

It was 4 pm on a Saturday and Duncan Flinch was queuing for waffles. The line stretched at least one block and then some. But Duncan had been there too long to give it up now.
    Six hours ago, time didn't matter to Duncan. He was home enjoying a day of rest from his stressful job as a teacher when Angela, his gorgeous neighbor, came over and asked him if he would like to get some waffles at a vendor she knew made the most amazing waffles. He immediately agreed and now he was standing in line, alone. Angela's boyfriend had appeared and took her away to see some antique jewelry. Angela had asked Duncan to wait and that she would be back.
    As Duncan kneaded his legs, stretched his arms, rolled his head, he started to have a different thought. He could see the truck, Charlie's Waffles, not far off. He was the seventh to last in line. The man ahead of him appeared not to have washed his unruly hair for days. The woman behind Duncan kept making calls and talking loudly.
    And yet Duncan waited. But he was restless, bored and hungry since he only had a cup of coffee and a slice of toast for breakfast and lunch time came and went. He had already wasted his time and giving up meant those times were even more wasted. A family of three walked passed him, all holding bags with the child nibbling a waffle. Their expressive faces told of people who had won some amazing prizes and were now going off for a celebration.
    A light drizzle began to fall but no one left the line. The woman behind Charlie opened an umbrella and made another call. The man in front of Duncan put on a see-through raincoat with a hood. Duncan just turned up his jacket collar. The rest of the people on the line seemed to be just as prepared. Was there a guide for queuing for waffles he didn't read? He took a peek at his wrist watch. It was nearly 6. If he was at home, he would be preparing dinner and maybe get a phone call from his mother about eating proper meals but no, he was out here queuing for waffles in the rain.
    The line moved slightly and Duncan moved with it. He was perhaps twenty or thirty people away from getting those waffles. Where the heck was Angela? He was not going to share any waffles with her.
    Duncan once read in a scientific journal that humans wait in line about 90% of their lifetime. It must be true. He had queued so many times for many things, he didn't even think too much about.
    The drizzle turned into large and heavy droplets. The man in front reached into his large duffle bag and pulled out another raincoat. He turned around and held it out to Duncan. "Here you go, buddy."
    Duncan smiled. "Thank you. Do you want it back later?" he said as he took the coat and put it on.
    The man shook his head. "No, it's yours," he said and turned back around.
    The waffles had better be amazing, thought Duncan. But it didn't matter. He was hungry so anything would probably taste heavenly to him.
    
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some time after 9 pm when the rain had stopped and the people behind Duncan had all left, it was Duncan's turn. He still wore the borrowed raincoat, now slightly wet. He ordered two stacks of blueberry waffles and paid with cash.
    After he took the bag with his order, the man with the name tag of Charlie on his apron, said, "Congratulations! You're our one millionth customer. With this card, you get a lifetime pass to buy waffles without queuing, ever." Charlie held out a card.
    Duncan took it and turned it over. "Thanks." The card had a script Q on both sides.
    "And this too," said Charlie holding a small, white box shaped like a chocolate bar but thicker with a pink bow on top.
    Duncan placed the card in his jacket pocket and took the box. It was way heavier than it should be. "What is it?"
    "Open it and look in side." Charlie grinned and pulled out the stick and licked the lollipop.
    Duncan placed the bag with the waffles on the counter attached to the truck. He lifted the lid of the box. Inside was a small rectangle that appeared to be gold "Is this real?"
    "As real as my gold tooth," grinned Charlie showing his teeth with one in gold.
    "Why would give this to me?"
    Charlie shrugged. "'Cause I feel like it."
    "Am I really your one millionth customer?"
    Charlie shrugged again. "Probably. I didn't count. You could've been my two or three millionth. Who cares?"
    "But—" Duncan closed the box and held it out to Charlie. "I can't take this. This is too much."
    "It's yours. I never take back what I give away. Good night!" Charlie pulled down the window's shutter but then pulled it up again. "Take your waffles!" He pulled the shutter down again.
    Duncan grabbed his bag of waffles just as the truck drove off. He took another peek inside the box and then closed it and tucked it into his jacket pocket. Was he dreaming? His stomach growled. He took a waffle from the bag and took a bite. It was as amazing as Angela said. As he headed for home, he wondered what he should do once he sold the gold. He was definitely not sharing it with Angela.

This week's Words for Wednesday prompts are provided by Elephant's Child over here. This week's prompts are: antique, guide, celebration, journal, expressive and/or A little bird told me; Cat got your tongue?; very dog has his day. I used the first set of prompts.