I'd worked at Culver's as a waitress in high school and still remembered their number by heart, so I called it.

"Culver's, how can we help you?"

"Yes, is there a Melinda Johansson who works there?"

"Not at this one. Could it be at the other Culver's?"

"There's two of them?"

"Built a second one three years ago."

"Do you have their number?"

"Give me a second. That number is," and she rattled the number off. "Do you need me to repeat that?"

"Please, I don't have anything to write with. I can put it in my phone if you go slow enough."

"Tell me when you're ready."

I set...