For a fee, the enterprising founder of BBQ Fast Pass will help you skip the many-hour line at the legendary Franklin Barbecue in Austin —by waiting for you. If you're having a Why didn't I think of that? moment, it's even more surprising that Desmond , the founder of this premium line-sitting service, is only 13 years old. The middle schooler has been line-sitting since February, but launched the BBQ Fast Pass website this week in time for summer vacation, opening the floodgates for a deluge of customers who want to snag his services. Naturally, we wanted to learn more, so earlier this week, after the middle schooler finished dinner and kung fu (he's a black belt), we Skyped with him, his parents Chris and Mia, and his dog to learn more about the brains behind the operation and how this whole "premium line sitting service" thing works.

Walk me through what happens if I sign up for BBQ Fast Pass.

Desmond: Once you sign up, you say how many people you’re ordering for, what you’re going to order, and what day you need it on. They open at 11 a.m., but I might not get barbecue until 11:30. People meet me and switch places with me. Then they pay me. It’s different if they do takeout or we deliver it.

Is this your first business venture?

Desmond : I’ve sold popcorn for Boy Scouts and donuts at a garage sale once. I babysit my brother, but not for money.

What’s the longest you’ve ever waited?

Desmond : The hardest time I ever waited in line was my first time in February. It was really cold, like 30 degrees. Now I’m pretty good at it. Four hours, maybe five is the longest I’ve waited. I get there at around 7 a.m. and leave about noon. I have a breakfast of gummy bear vitamins, and I drink that with apple juice. Then I have a bagel from a local bagel place with bacon in it. That’s it.

What do you do while you’re waiting in the line?

Desmond : During the school year I do homework, then I’ll either listen to music or watch Netflix. There’s WiFi.

Chris : People also talk to him a lot.

Desmond : People always have drinks: Bud Light, tequila, orange juice, tomato juice. They drink and smoke e-cigarettes or cigarettes. People are mellower once they start drinking. I like talking to them.

Do you have any tips for other people lining up?

Desmond : If I were alone, I’d bring a book or text someone. If I were older, I would probably drink alcohol with my friends. Definitely bring a friend if you aren’t very patient.

Chris : Bring an umbrella for the heat.

Do you eat the barbecue?

Desmond : If I’m lucky, I do. But since I’m the one that’s switching off with people, and since I want to be nice, I usually give away the samples they give you on the line to everybody else.

Any favorite clients?

Desmond : There was a guy who responded to our Craigslist ad about two months ago.

Chris : He left $300 in the lobby of a hotel for Desmond , a complete stranger. He was like 29 years old, probably. He was from New York and was in town for a bachelor party.

A first-timer gets barbecue at Franklin Barbecue courtesy of Desmond. Photo: Twitter/@BBQFastPass

You're saving up for a car, right? When will you get your license?

Desmond : I’m 13, so two or three years from now. I want to get something sporty when I’m older; for now, I want to get a safe one.

Chris : I made the mistake of telling him when he was younger that we would match whatever money he came up with. I thought he’d come up with $3,000 max.

Desmond : We shook on it!

What do your friends say about this?

Desmond : A good friend of mine’s waited in line with me three or four times. I’ve paid him for that and I think I’m going to invite more of my friends.

How does pricing work?

Chris : We’ve started a three-tier pricing plan: silver, gold, and platinum access. Silver is $50 and that’s only for the weekdays, Tuesday through Friday. It goes up from there. On weekends, we’re charging more, and then holiday weekends will be platinum pricing.

If you could go big and eat anything at Franklin Barbecue, what would it be?

Desmond : I’ve never tried their pies. I would try all of them. I would get one pound of pork ribs, one pound of beef ribs, two pounds of turkey…

Mia : Who’s eating all of this?

Desmond : I’m eating it! So, then two loaves of bread, three Coca-Colas…

What do you do for fun when you’re not kicking butt at kung fu or waiting in line for barbecue?

Desmond : I watch TV and do my homework. I started running and working out more this summer. Normally I just play video games—what any middle school kid would do.