School was rough, and the semester was coming to an end. My friends and I decided, why not take the weekend off?

We found a few hotel rooms for little money and headed up to West Yellowstone. We didn’t plan anything big, just a weekend away from Rexburg.

Apparently West Yellowstone is on summer/fall track — nearly all the shops were closed with nobody in sight. For the next 24 hours, a digital camera and 30-foot snow mounds became our entertainment. It’s a good thing the hotel had an indoor pool.

Saturday, after waking up early for free breakfast then sleeping until we had to check out, we made our way into the seeming ghost town. A few shops welcomed us and we found some souvenirs.

We were beginning to think our belly-flop contest the night before would be the highlight of the trip. Suddenly, we heard music and smelled food.

Buckaroo Bill’s, the small burger joint that called out to us, was probably the only place open on all of Main Street. We walked in and were instantly welcomed by Bill. He asked if we were going to want ice cream or food. We said both. He said. “Well then who’s cooking?”

Anybody would have thought Bill was joking, and we did. But he wasn’t. We soon had one girl grilling burgers, two girls scooping ice cream and I was the assigned waitress. I took a sloppy order, getting it right only because I knew everybody. Who was I kidding? I’d never been a waitress before.

As I ran to the back, Gail, Bill’s wife, handed me an apron and a hat. I read off the orders to Bill and our cook, then I scrambled to fill up water pitchers for the two large tables of girls in the dining room. I still couldn’t believe I was actually waitressing — on my vacation.

The meal went as smoothly as expected, with Bill and Gail frantically trying to explain to their many helpers what needed to be done. I managed to deliver the food without too many mishaps; Bill even insisted I serve the other customers who came in.

Time flew by. Four buffalo burgers, two chicken sandwiches, three elk burgers, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and one very large order of fries later, we lined up with Bill to take a picture. He promised us a spot on the wall, right under the governor.

I’ll never forget my experience as an impromptu waitress. Although I did not fill out a job application and earn summer employment, as did many of the other girls, I got something I’ll always take with me.

We came to West Yellowstone to have some fun, and he helped make that possible. Besides, he didn’t charge us for the food!