SUDBURY, MA – A local couple has discovered the value of putting forth a little extra effort around lunchtime. Over the past week, Betsy and Samuel had been growing increasingly frustrated as they braved frigid temperatures to venture out to Harry’s House of Pizza, Subs & Seafood only to find it closed. “This is one of those classic New England sandwich shops where everyone knows your name. It’s a real gem around here” says Betsy of the establishment.

The couple had made Harry’s somewhat of a ritual in their 33-year marriage, frequenting the shop for lunch a couple times a week and ordering a Pizza di Harry, a fan favorite, for their traditional family dinners on Friday nights. “The pizza is pretty good,” says Samuel describing the Pizza di Harry, “it’s a four-cheese pizza topped with onions, peppers, mushrooms and fried pepperoni. Sometimes they have a mozzarella stuffed crust, really depends on who’s making it.”

Creatures of habit, the two have resorted to drastic measures as they’ve attempted to recreate the pizza at home to support their tradition. “Betsy is certainly not a cook, so I’ve been sort of taking the reins on this one” says Samuel. As it turns out, Samuel is not much of a cook either, still recovering from grease burns up and down his forearms, stomach and thighs; the result of a pepperoni fry session gone wrong. The couple has since invested in a heavy duty rubber grease resistant floor mat.

After the accident, Betsy had had enough. Driving to Harry’s a ninth time, Betsy made the critical decision to don her mask and exit the vehicle. Walking up to the door, she noticed an 8.5” x 11” piece of printer paper had been carefully taped to the door. Reading the handwritten blue Sharpie text out loud to Samuel idling in the car nearby, Betsy’s frustration evaporated, unlike the grease stains on her imported Bianco Antico granite countertops. “Dated 08 February 2021: Closed for 2 weeks for deep cleaning/sanitization as a result of employee Covid-19 concerns. We’ll be back 22 February, see you all then! Much love, Harry &…” she paused for a moment before exclaiming, “PETER Mortadella! How wonderful is that? A successful business owned by a gay couple,” she remarked.

Delighted by news, Betsy skipped back to the car. An annoyed Samuel met his wife’s glee with patient frustration. “You know honey,” began Samuel, “I really wish you had gotten out of the car to see that sign a few trips ago. Remember? Like I had asked?” Not taking the bait, and too caught up in her excitement, Betsy let her husband’s subtle nag slide. “Let’s go to Bertucci’s” she ordered. Samuel, allowing hunger to distract him from his irritation, obediently put the car into gear and cautiously rolled out of the parking lot.