I forgot about this lady...
So, over the Christmas period, we get a lot of parties in. Most of them are people who have just come straight from work and want a bite to eat and a drink. Some people ring ahead and book tables, which we simply shove together and put "RESERVED" signs on. But one group wanted something a little more special. Something a bit more Christmasy. They booked a week in advance, and the very nice lady who was organising it came in and gave us money to buy things like napkins, table cloths and crackers. Very nice of her.
So, it was the day of the booking. And I took on the task of getting it together. The booking was for 30 people, so I set aside an area of the bar and started work on it. It was great fun. Very relaxing spending my time decorating tables, lighting candles ect ect rather than dealing with customers.
Then the family came along.
It was a large family. Grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, brother, sister and six children. They decided it would be best to position themselves right next to the large booking, and proceeded to be as disruptive and noisey as possible. I ignored them and carried on making oragami napkins. I have my back turned to the family.
I turn around to start putting the napkins on the tables, and I see the mother. She has three boxes of christmas crackers and several unlit candles in her hands.
Husband: Quick honey!
The wife drops the candles, but proceed to run back to her table with the crackers! She then dumps the boxes of crackers in front of the six children, who attempt to tear open the boxes.
Me: Excuse me!!
Wife: What??
Me: I need those crackers!
Wife: What about the kids? Can't the kids pull a few crackers?
The kids looked at me with huge puppy dog eyes.
Me: No, I need them.
Wife: Surely you don't need them all!
Me: I don't. But you were rude. If you had asked me for a few spare crackers, I would have been happy to give you them, but you didn't. So you're not getting any.
I picked up the crackers up off the tables. The children looked as though they were about to cry. I walked back and carried on what I was doing.
Wife: You're really mean! You know that!
Cool Grandfather: It serves you right. I told you to ask.
As I worked, I heard her mutter:
Wife: Well, we nearly got away with it, didn't we kids?
Yes, that's right. You teach your kids that stealing is OK, and teach them how to "nearly" get away with it.
So, over the Christmas period, we get a lot of parties in. Most of them are people who have just come straight from work and want a bite to eat and a drink. Some people ring ahead and book tables, which we simply shove together and put "RESERVED" signs on. But one group wanted something a little more special. Something a bit more Christmasy. They booked a week in advance, and the very nice lady who was organising it came in and gave us money to buy things like napkins, table cloths and crackers. Very nice of her.
So, it was the day of the booking. And I took on the task of getting it together. The booking was for 30 people, so I set aside an area of the bar and started work on it. It was great fun. Very relaxing spending my time decorating tables, lighting candles ect ect rather than dealing with customers.
Then the family came along.
It was a large family. Grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, brother, sister and six children. They decided it would be best to position themselves right next to the large booking, and proceeded to be as disruptive and noisey as possible. I ignored them and carried on making oragami napkins. I have my back turned to the family.
I turn around to start putting the napkins on the tables, and I see the mother. She has three boxes of christmas crackers and several unlit candles in her hands.
Husband: Quick honey!
The wife drops the candles, but proceed to run back to her table with the crackers! She then dumps the boxes of crackers in front of the six children, who attempt to tear open the boxes.
Me: Excuse me!!
Wife: What??
Me: I need those crackers!
Wife: What about the kids? Can't the kids pull a few crackers?
The kids looked at me with huge puppy dog eyes.
Me: No, I need them.
Wife: Surely you don't need them all!
Me: I don't. But you were rude. If you had asked me for a few spare crackers, I would have been happy to give you them, but you didn't. So you're not getting any.
I picked up the crackers up off the tables. The children looked as though they were about to cry. I walked back and carried on what I was doing.
Wife: You're really mean! You know that!
Cool Grandfather: It serves you right. I told you to ask.
As I worked, I heard her mutter:
Wife: Well, we nearly got away with it, didn't we kids?
Yes, that's right. You teach your kids that stealing is OK, and teach them how to "nearly" get away with it.
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