Skyline of Cincinnati

Neither Trudy nor Ben wanted to stop. I wanted to and tried to convince them otherwise, but their resolve was firm.

We're not hungry yet, they said.

When you're driving all day, the last meals do eventually blend into the next ones. Even though it had been hours since we last ate (I swear it was hours), it was clearly still too soon for them.

This was our last chance, I tried to explain. We'd just passed over the river and were leaving Cincinnati behind. It was now or never. Last chance for Skyline Chili.

Yet despite these entreaties, they still said no. Then George spoke up from the back seat.

I am kind of hungry, he volunteered in his quiet voice.

You are the man, I said and took the next exit up the hill. You see I kind of figured that as driver my tie-making vote broke the tie it created. I didn't ask for second opinions.

...

In a strip mall near the top of the hill, we parked the car and walked into the restaurant. We sat down and studied the one menu at the table.

I explained to them the intricacies of Skyline Chili: 3-way, 4-way, 5-way. But I left the discussion of cinnamon until after they had begun to eat.

When the food did arrive, they devoured it with glee (even those two who had professed disinterest just minutes before). Then I mentioned the cinnamon when they began asking about the taste. And I wondered out loud at how spicy it was.

Cinnamon wouldn't make it spicy, would it? I asked, looking over at Trudy. She took another bite of her 4-way and shook her head no.

The man in the booth behind us turned around and looked at me.

Did you try the hot sauce?

I picked up the menu looking for a hot sauce option.

No, he said pointing to a bottle on our table. The hot sauce right there. If you drip it on a dirty penny, it'll make it shine.

His kids smiled as I reached into my pocket.

As I dripped a few drops on the penny on the table, he volunteered, There's chocolate in it, too.

No! I exclaimed (quietly). I looked at Trudy. I looked at the boys. I looked back at him. Chocolate!?

...

Later, after we had finished our meals and thoroughly cleaned the penny, I leaned over to the man in the booth.

So were you messing with me ... about the chocolate.

No, he promised.

And he told me of a frat brother friend of his who was from a Greek family and knew the family of the guy who started the chain and somehow knew a few of the ingredients of the secret recipe used to make Skyline Chili.

Chocolate! As if cinnamon wasn't enough.

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