Darcy Clarke and his wife Laura Clarke opened their food truck Bentley’s Burgers and Fries in 2022. Photo by Darcy ClarkeArticle contentA mysterious letter from Warrior, Alabama to West Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia has sparked joy and maybe a little hope for the frayed U.S.-Canada relationship.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe story starts on Oct. 1 when Darcy Clarke, proud co-owner of Bentley’s Burgers and Fries in West Chezzetcook, got a call from someone with a southern accent on Oct. 1 for two burgers and two fries.Article contentArticle content“We get a lot of tourists come through and we just took the order, nothing new, right? We just thought nothing of it,” said Clarke.Article contentArticle content“At the end of the evening when we still had the order, we realized that these people may have got lost or something could have happened, right? Not a big deal.”Article contentThen last week, he checked the mail and his jaw dropped.Article contentIt was a handwritten letter from Warrior, Alabama, with no name attached. Warrior is a northern suburb of Birmingham with a population of 3,000.Article content“I was unable to pick up the food because I live in the U.S.A.,” read the letter. “Obviously, I called the wrong restaurant. I hope that the amount enclosed is enough to cover the cost of my embarrassing mistake.”Article contentIt was signed: “My sincere apologies. God bless.”Article content Darcy Clarke, owner of Bentley’s Burgers and Fries in West Chezzetcook, received this letter last week from a customer who mistakenly ordered from Alabama. Photo by Darcy ClarkeArticle contentAnd inside was $40USD.Article content“We couldn’t believe it,” said Clarke. “It was amazing, jaw-dropping. There’s still hope for humanity.”Article contentThey don’t know who this person is, but in true Nova Scotian fashion, Clarke said he has the return address and plans to send them a printout of all the uplifting comments from their Facebook post about the letter, along with stickers and packets of their seasoning.Article contentArticle content‘Good Americans’Article contentClarke’s Facebook post received over 100 comments, like:Article content“See, there is good Americans,” and “Aw, I want to send them a Christmas card! Maybe more people here do?”Article contentSeveral people were encouraged by the act of honesty.Article content“There are always really nice people around who take responsibility for their own mistakes. Canadian or American, or from wherever, just nice people. Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” wrote another person.Article contentClarke said it’s all positive and amazing to see.Article contentAt a time when Canadian-American relations are strained, it’s a sign of goodwill.Article content“The wife and I try to stay out of politics,” said Clarke. “The only thing I can say about that, tariffs suck.”Article contentThey have American friends, he added, “people from the States are nice people, just right now there is this thing called tariffs and it’s blagh!”Article contentWidowmaker and a big life changeArticle contentFor years, Clarke and his wife, Laura Clarke, were in the concrete business. That is, until a major event in 2019 changed everything.Article content“I had a widowmaker heart attack and we decided it was time to slow down some ‘cause that day heaven didn’t want me and hell sent me back,” said the now 51-year-old. “So we decided to open up the food trailer and built it brand new from the ground up.”Article content Darcy Clarke and his wife Laura Clarke opened their food truck Bentley’s Burgers and Fries in 2022. Photo by Darcy ClarkeArticle contentIt opened in 2022 and “it just exploded,” Clarke said. Business has been good.Article content“We love what we do, we take it serious,” he said. “Cleanliness is number one and consistency is number two.”Article contentIn the summer, they can barely answer the phone; it’s so busy.Article content“We make like 200 burgers a day … and in the summers we usually sell out.”Article content
Long-distance order: Woman from Alabama sends apology, cash to West Chezzetcook food truck
