Number of People: 2
Number of People Contemplating Divorce at Table: 2
As i walked up to the table i literally felt this eerie, akward, uncomfortable sensation comeover me, like i had just walked in on someone using the bathroom. The joy of a busy Friday night is that I’m always moving. Literally, I’m walking in just giant circles around the store, from my tables to dish, from dish to the expo window, and then back to the tables. It becomes much choreographed in a way. So in the midst of a busy night when get sat with a very good looking couple i' instantly notice. You know the couples that just complement each other, the ones that look good individually, but just look better together because they’re just too obnoxiously good-looking of people. It’s sick that all these thoughts go on in my head in the middle of a rush but the people in a way are the entertainment, plus they’re all I’ve got to look at other then the food, and that never changes.
As I got closer to the table , the conversation I thought I was going to stop, didn’t. In fact it wasn't even a conversation, it was an argument; an extremely heated argument, being fought through fake smiles and clinching teeth. So now I’m standing their smiling, just as fake as they are, and I’m pretty sure were all aware of how fake were being, really awkward now. The only word I could even squeeze out through the tension was “drinks”? All I got back was “Two waters, thanks”, and then right back into their glares. Yeah, I didn’t have time for this at all.
I returned to the table with the drinks, as I was walking up, the butt end of the sentence I intruded on ended like this, “I contacted my lawyer yesterday, if you want this could be finished in…” and then there I am with the drinks. Wishing my timing wasn’t so impeccable. I asked if they needed more time, the woman said yes, he said no, and then ordered a medium cheese pizza and gave me the menu’s, including the one he grabbed right out of her hands. I felt bad for her, but unfortunately I was so busy that this Days of Our Lives episode was just going to have to wait until I could tune back in when I bring them their food.
The time goes by and I barely even notice them as I’m running around. As I walk back to the expo window to get their pizza, it had been about thirty-five minutes so I’m hoping things have been smoothed out by now. I turn the corner, walk up to the table only to find the female now in full on tears. I’m talking liquid eye liner down her cheeks, a trail of snot exiting her nose, and a little pile of napkins in front of her on the table. As I’m setting my pizza down on the stand at the other side of the table, I notice that next to the pile of tissues is a ring, my heart broke for her. Now normally if I’m in the middle of a Friday night rush I don’t have time to think about anything else, but as I walked away from the table this lady’s tears were really starting to weigh on me. When I brought the check I also brought one these little Ben & Jerry’s little ice cream cups with two spoons, I figured it couldn’t hurt. The man looked really annoyed. He gave me his card without looking at the bill, and I left. I returned, wished them a good night, and moved on about my job. When I came back to the table after they left to get my book, it was gone. No receipt, no cash, nothing, they even took my pen. Rude.
I chalked it up to two things;
A. The husband did not appreciate my gesture, and made it a point to make it known.
B. They were too distraught over what was happening to even think about me.
Regardless I let it go, for this reason only, I’ve had those days. The days when you just wish someone could just be a little bit patient with you when you need it the most, so I was. Instead of cursing them for the next two hours, I took a breath, smoked a cigarette, and had the host double seat me. Sometimes as a serve I find myself expecting people to give me a break, seeing as my job is not a funfest. But, seeing as I think people should extend that mercy to me, I should extend that mercy to other people. Maybe they forgot, maybe they didn’t have enough money to tip me and were embarrassed, regardless it happens.
The next day, the female came back in with the server book, my pen, and five dollars to tip me for the food. She gave it to the host and told her to tell me thanks for the ice cream. Patience is a virtue, I’m learning slowly.
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Wow! In the 6 years I've been serving, I've never dealt with that emotional of a table before, although I have seen them. It is so hard to focus on serving tables when all you want to do is figure out what in the world is going on. But the tip situation is one i totally understand. I constantly get horrible tips or no tips at all, and usually i expect it because I have begun to judge my tables before the end, which is not right. I definitely give you props for giving the table the benefit of the doubt, because that is one extremely hard thing to do in the moment. But the fact that she came back with your stuff and a tip is awesome, it just reinforces that there are still some decent people out there! Awesome story!
ReplyDeleteLMAO, I'm sure on a Friday night their pizza took more like an hour thirty-five =P
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Wow if I had that conversation I think I would need more than water. I would feel so uncomfortable. What type of man tells his wife he contacted his lawyer in the middle of a restaurant. Who knows now a days. That was nice she came back. Im sure the ice cream did help her a little. That was a really nice gesture.
ReplyDeleteA waiter walk by our table one time and saw we had legos. Yes at the restaurant. He brought us about 5 small to go boxes and said they work great for legos. He uses them for his daughters legos. I didnt think we looked like a disaster but he probable saw one in the making.
Patience is good, however that is retail theft. Good for you for not exploding. I would have felt so bad for her that I would have to screw him over with a phone call to the police.
ReplyDeleteI think breaking up in a restaurant is tacky. I really feel bad for anyone who has to endure that torment.
Good post.
Bravo, sir. I would first like to say that your blog is a fantastic representation of what we servers endure. I feel that people often subject us to awkward situations or unfair treatment simply because they are paying us (sometimes not enough) at the end of a meal.
ReplyDeleteOne part of your story that really caught me was the fact that she came back to give you your gratuity. It is one thing to be embarrassed in public, it's another to come back and apologize for it. You encountered a unique individual; most restaurant goers would never think twice about making a return for that reason.
I am shocked that the lady came back in and brought not only the property of the restaurant but also a tip for you. This shows that there really are good, caring people in the world and that often times no matter how short the end of the stick they are getting is (in her case a divorce), they do not let attempt to drag others down to their level. It took alot of courage for her to return to the restaurant, not only after a scene had been made by her husband, but also after he blatantly disrespected you.
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