After over a month of dreading the picking up of food from a drive-thru, I was finally able to muster enough courage to try my luck last night.

Taking along with me were homemade aloe vera/absolute alcohol/lemon hand sanitizer; absolute alcohol-soaked napkins in a sandwich bag; and a dish with washcloth soaked in accordance-with-CDC-diluted bleach, couched on the passenger seat which I lined with plastic.

Feeling adequately “armed” to go, I took a deep breath and drove off to Popeye’s to get my favorite 2-piece/white meat/spicy chicken, biscuit, and no-ice Coke, along with a side order of Green Beans.

As I slowly inched toward the drive-thru lane, I started to wonder whether I made the right decision. My hemming and hawing was cut short; however, since a line of cars was appearing behind me.

After clearing my throat, I bellowed my favorite order at the speaker, clearly adding, 2 each of butter and honey.

The clerk repeated my order, mentioned the final cost, and directed me to move ahead.

As my car rolled towards the window, I mentally went over my decontamination procedure, inventorying all the nearby paraphernalias in the process.

In no time, the drive up window popped open. Without giving the masked attendant a chance to speak, I handed him my credit card.

“You want a copy of the receipt?” he asked, as he returned the card to me.

“No. Thank you,” I said, thinking that I didn’t want any additional possible source of contamination.

With my alcohol-soaked napkin ready, I wiped my credit card so vigorously that it almost erased my signature from it. The napkin still dripping with alcohol, I used it to thoroughly wiped my hands and everything that I touched.

The drive-up window popped open again and the masked attendant handed me my Coke and a wrapped straw. I wiped the soda container and the wrapped straw carefully and set them aside.

Soon thereafter, he handed me a bag which I presumed contained my order.

“Thank you and please continue to be safe and healthy,” I said.

“Thank you and same to you,” he replied, as I rolled up my window, easing the car towards the front of the store.

“Okay. Now what, Romeo?” I asked myself, as the aroma of the fried chicken started to fulfill my over-a-month yearning. I figured that I should start with the Coke. So, I gingerly peeled off the now-alcohol-soaked wrapper from the straw, pushed the straw through the hole in the soda cap, and took a sip.

“Whoa!” I exclaimed as the Coke chilled my throat, chest, and belly. Having had no soda for over a month, it was like a priceless thirst-quenching.

Feeling somewhat victorious that I conquered my fear, I hurried home, eager to have the fill of my favorite which I had been hankering for.

I got in the house and placed the bag and soda on my plastic-lined kitchenette table.

I washed my hands while singing “Happy Birthday” twice. I wiped them dry and sat to eagerly start my chicken dinner.

I pulled out the meal box, a plastic wrapped spoon/fork, and a small container with green beans from the bag.

Akin to getting a gift at Christmas, I excitedly opened the meal box.

I moaned as I took the first bite of the chicken wing. I chewed it thoroughly so I could enjoy every bit of it.

I was in continued ecstasy as I proceeded with the chicken breast, sipping Coke and ingesting spoonfuls of the green beans in between bites. To complete my $7.19 dinner, I relished the butter and strawberry jam-covered biscuit for dessert.

Extremely delighted I was with my first drive-thru/fast-food dinner in a long while that I didn’t care much that the masked attendant failed to add 2 each of Popeye’s butter and honey. My own butter and jam served just as well.

Having finished with the proper disposal and decontamination procedures, my Hump Day ended with a full belly and a contented smile.