Is A Dollar Worth This?

Tonight I was clippin around, had a couple tables, but kinda slow, when I was sat a three top.

I was in a fairly good mood, got an A on my second Business Administration test, and it was showing at work tonight. So I approached my table with a smile on my face...

"Hi folks how are we doing tonight?" As generic greetings go, this one is an old faithful.

The lady looks up, her response to my question,"I WANT a Bombay Martini, Up with a twist, olives on the side."

So that's how its going to be, didn't know that was the answer to how are you...

Hell not even a please.

I look at her husband,"So how are YOU doing tonight?"

"Diet Coke with lime, no lemon,"is his answer.

Great.

Third guy, I don't even bother.

"What do you want sir?"

I get their order to them.

I start my feature spiel, "tonite we have Swordfish encrusted with...."

"What's your soup???"

Interruption, no excuse me.

"Ma'am its clam chowder, the Manhattan variety"

"Well what's that mean?" She retorts.

It means you're a nuisance, is the first answer that crosses my mind.

"Ma'am it means its not cream based, would you like to hear the rest of the specials?"

"Well of course!"

I go over the specials again, no takers of course

As I ask about appetizer the husband points at his neighboring table,"Do you know her?" "
What's she having?"

I look over, "No I don't know her, its a Margharita Pizza."

"Well do you think she'll let me have a piece, she isn't going to finish it, look at her."

She's a thin woman.

"Can you ask her?" He inquires.

"No"

"I don't broker deals between tables sir, if you want to know, ask her yourself."

He actually ponders it for a moment.

Shit, I think to myself, he's serious.

He looks at me,"don't worry about it."

They order, a bowl of chowder for the lady, and two entree salads for the gentlemen, before their dinner, they eat more than enough for a regular person.

Of course not one please, or I would like, or thank you...

I WANT this, and I WANT that, etc, etc, etc...

I drop off their entrees, two orders of calamari for the couple, (yes its an appetizer, but they can do what they want), and a 24oz. Prime Rib for their friend.

I check back in a couple minutes.

"How is everything tonite folks?"

Great of course, we're know for our food.

A they eat I check on my other tables, take orders, and of course flirt with the hostess.

Then I come back, they look finished, but there is about half an order of calamari left.

The lady raises her hand,"Sir, I have a comment about our food, I come here all the time and was very disappointed with our calamari, it was pasty and had no flavor."

"I'm sorry ma'am, sir was yours ok?"

"No it wasn't, have you ever tried this? It's terrible I bet you get complaints all the time!"

"Actually sir most of my guests rather enjoy it." I say to him,"But I'll pass on your comments to the chef."

I go up to my manager, its plain as day they don't want to pay for their food.

The thing is, I could have done something about it if they had spoken up when I checked back to make sure everything was ok.

But that's usually the case when people want a hand out, they never complain when there is time to do something about it.

So she takes off their calamari, their bill after this is sixty eight bucks.

I go back up to the table,"Sir, I talked to my manager about the calamari, and we went ahead and took it off for you."

He starts up again,"I bet you knew it would drastically improve your tip to do that didn't you?"

I'm taken aback,"Sir that wasn't my intention."

His repose,"Whatever."

He throw a Benjamin in the check presenter.

"You do a great job, keep it," as he thrusts the book at me...

"Put your kids through college or something."

What!?!

He just took a shot at my job

His wife chuckles at that, poor me they must think...

Maybe my kids will have a better life than this poor server.

"Now get out of here."

There is a certain disdain in his eye as he says that last remark.

I feel the last straw narrowly miss my aching back.

I storm away, grab a smoke from a buddy and go outside.

I'm nearly shaking.

I made $32 off that table, not a single please or thank you.

All I got was a "Great Job"

But it was with such contempt.

"Put your kids through college!"

Who is he? Rodney Dangerfield?

He didn't look like a man who was born with a silver spoon, I know the type.

He had to have come from somewhere, too bad he forgot where that place was.

I would have rather had half the tip, and a little bit of politeness and respect.

I can't last much longer doing this, he was almost to much for me, my resolve for this job is weakening

So tomorrow I'll get up, go to class, put in another shift...

And the long and slow road of my life continues, hopefully a better place is around the next bend...