Arrested Development

Gary hadn’t always wanted to own a diner. In fact he still didn’t, when Gary was growing up his dream was to light out and escape the din of the city for something more secluded. However; as the years passed him by his dream of sequestering himself in an old farm house faded forcing him to move through a procession of mediocre jobs. He’d been a gas station attendant until self service took over, he’s tested hair re-growth medicine only to lose his remaining hair, and he’d even invented a machine to put insulation on copper wires just in time to find out that it already existed. Life had been hard on Gary and the haggard lines on his face made no attempt at hiding that.

Gary became the proprietor of Gary’s Din Din entirely by an ugly twist of fate. One evening while walking to the local bakery to steal the unsold cupcakes from the dumpster out back, Gary was struck by a drunken man on a moped. In the ensuing legal battle Gary was awarded eight thousand dollars, with which he promptly purchased a new 1992 Jeep Comanche.

Feeling lucky with his new truck Gary decided to do a little gambling at his favorite miniature horse race track. Things were going good and Gary was upping the ante right until the point his favorite Shetland took a nasty spill. When it came time to pay out Gary discovered he had played the odds a bit recklessly and would not be able to pay his debt. Keith, Gary’s bookie, was livid but being the astute businessman he quickly drew up a couple plans for collecting.

1. Keith breaks Gary’s arm gives him one week etc…

2. Gary takes over the failing, debt riddled diner that Keith had taken as collateral in a previous arrangement.

With options like those Gary made quickly made the decision that would effectively kill his former hopes, dreams, and ambitions.