Adventure to Aunt Sarah's Pancake House

About four years ago, I went to this track meet down in Richmond, VA. Upon arrival, we did the usual pre-meet stuff at the track; then, we headed to our hotel. After cleaning up pretty quick, everybody was starving for dinner. Naturally, being the pancake lover that I am, I was interested in going to Aunt Sarah's Pancake House as soon as I saw it. Plus, pancakes are high in carbohydrates so there is good reason for me to eat them the day before the race. So, me and four other guys head over to this place to eat, and it was one of the craziest eating experiences of my life. Upon entering, this dude Arnold says he'll be our waiter for tonight. AT LEAST... Arnold was a character. He takes us to our seats, and we are seated in this section that smells like Halloween candy. Then, he asks if he can get us some drinks. He looks to me, and asks what he can get for me.

ME: "Ummmmm" (looking at the menu).
ARNOLD: "We don't serve um!!!"
ME: (I chuckle a little) "Uhhhhhh" (still trying to decide on a drink).
ARNOLD: "We don't serve uh either!!!"
ME: (I laugh but I am slightly frustrated now) "I'll take a Hawaiian Punch."
ARNOLD: (Winding up like the Hawaiian Punch mascot) Hawaiiannnnn PUNCH!!!!

At this point, I was just thinking this guy is out of control. So, we sit there and laugh about how crazy this guy is while we wait for our drinks. Then, he comes back with our drinks and tells us about this special. He says that they have all you can eat pancakes, chicken, and fried fish along with three side dishes of your choice. All of this was for some real cheap price; I think the whole meal was under ten dollars. So we all take the special and pick our side dishes. We tried to tell him that we just wanted the pancakes, but he refused to just bring pancakes. Every time, he came out with plates of chicken, fish, and pancakes along with more side dishes. He, didn't care if we didn't eat the chicken and fish; He just insisted that he would bring it. Also, he always gave our token black friend in the group more chicken each time. We thought that it was his last day of work, and that he just created this special to screw his employers out of as much money as possible.

Finally, we ask for a check. He brings us the check, and before he leaves us to look it over he gives us a puzzle. He says that he tells everybody this puzzle, and only two people have solved it. One was a seven year old, and the other had a PhD. The puzzle was as follows; you have three houses, and each needs gas, electric, and water. Draw a gas line, an electric line, and a water line to each house without crossing the lines.

We begin trying to solve the puzzle. We think we have a couple of solutions, but he points out violations of the rules. Eventually, we give up and pay our bills. I was stuffed, and I had a sugar rush from all of the syrup that I used. More importantly, I still remember about this crazy man Arnold and laugh about the whole ordeal four years later. I think that I have solved the puzzle, but I have not been down to that restaurant again to ask. My solution would be to run three parallel lines through all of the houses (I can't remember if this is allowed, but it probably isn't allowed since it is a logical solution). Arnold didn't seem like the type of guy that would give out a puzzle with a logical solution.