Happy Customer

We were slammed from the moment we unlocked the door this morning.  They were waiting out there in the cold, even.  They tumbled in all cheery and Friday-like.   I love them like that.  Things were smooth, and I was enjoying good timing in the kitchen.  I was feeling confident as breakfast turned into lunch.  A rare smooth transition, as tables often fill right then with people who want breakfast AND lunch.  Not today though, things were completely sweet.

Until Bianca let her guard down and took a crazy order from a table of four crabby older women who sneered at the menu.  They ordered several things, but wanted each of those things altered in some way.  The rule is "no" to that kind of order.  By now, the house was packed.  People were sitting on the stairs, waiting for a table.  Making this custom meal stopped the kitchen dead for 25 minutes.  Orders lined up but I had to put full effort to just that one order.  Everyone else in the house had to wait . 

I knew there was a small child at one of the waiting tables, and that her parents had ordered a cup of fruit for her.  In the midst of my monumental preparations for the old women (who I knew were going to want to split their check and would certainly tip in a miserly way), I took a moment to deliver the fruit to the child.  I grabbed a little condiment fork so she'd have a utensil that was her size.  Piper and Sasha LOVE those little witchy forks!  She looked up at me with a questioning face as I dashed away.  More messing around and the difficult order finally departed the kitchen. 

The family with the little girl was next up and as I delivered the rest of their food, they asked for hot chocolate.  I still had several orders waiting for me in the kitchen, but lost my mind and took the time to make the chocolate.  With people waiting and the clock ticking, I thought to pour the finished chocolate into a little pitcher and deliver an espresso cup that would be easier for a two-year old to drink from.  I didn't know or care how much time this took.  The thing is, we all spend that time and special effort for people who never even know...and often wouldn't care if they did take the time to notice!  Not this time though.  As I set the tiny cup in front of the little girl, she flashed me a bright thank you smile so dazzling that it took my breath away! 

The old ladies, who caused me to run behind for the rest of the day, did want their bill split four ways, and they did leave miserly tips.  Off they went to their self-centered weekend.  That little girl though, looked at me as if I were perfectly magic!  Though still a baby, she recognized and appreciated my special effort and rewarded me with a smile I will never forget.