Something Someone Said

I have worked in the service industry since I was 14 years old, in fact I lied about my age to get my first job, only by a few months, but still, I lied to get the job as a bus girl at a fine dinning restaurant, back in 1973.  The Hanson House, a family restaurant owned by Art and Loretta Hanson.  I remember very little of those two people, except they were serious and business like and looking back I don't think they liked many of their employees, nor did they seem to enjoy the job but they ran a successful and profitable restaurant.

Most of what I know about the service industry I learned while working at the Hanson House, first as a bus girl, then as a cocktail waitress, and finally as a bartender. 

What made me change careers after so many years in a job that I knew better than most people?

A woman flicked food off her plate at me.  It was as simple as that.  I looked at her and saw a normal looking woman, perhaps 10 years older than myself.  She was with her husband, daughter and grandchild.  They all looked normal, had happy faces There was laughter at the table.  They had had an appetizer; I'd cleared the plates, refilled their soft drinks, delivered their meals and was doing the 2-3 minute check back.  This woman had ordered the Chicken Quesadilla as her meal and when I returned for the check-back, she had lined up bits of bacon from inside the Quesadilla on the edge of her plate and began flicking them at me, "Does"..flick  "This"..flick.."Look"..flick..."Like"..flick .."Chicken?"..Flick.

 I began to explain that it was bacon, and there is indeed bacon in the Quesadilla's. But, before I got more than  a few words out she held up one slice of the Quesadilla, as she was chewing another slice, opened it and asked, "Do you see any chicken?" I replied that I was sorry and I can have another made for her right away. I've learned that it does not help to explain, or justify, just acknowledge and fix. I offered to get my manager.

"No, I just want to enjoy what's left of this meal".

Meanwhile, as my face burned in humiliation, as all the tables around me witnessed this scene, her family seemed completely unaware of the exchange.  They continued to eat, talk and laugh. Their lunch bill came to $50.00 some dollars, and they left me .37 cents. Their service was exceptional, I made sure of it.  I never adopted a sour attitude, I remained polite, cheerful and professional.

What makes a person behave that way?  When did it become okay to sit idle as your mother/wife/husband/whoever behaves this way to another person?

I realize people have issues, some serious issues and I get that. But what I do not get is the lack of manners, common manners that we were all, hopefully , raised with.