So embarrasing!

If you have read the ‘About Me’ page then you’ll know I worked at a restaurant for a few years during high school. I was a ‘table’ waitress there. We had girls that worked on the counter - taking take away orders, and girls that worked on the tables. I worked the tables. There were (and probably still is) nine tables inside. And about four outside. The nine inside were always the busiest and usually there was only one girl working the tables at night except for friday’s. (One of the shifts I worked) Then we were two girls. There were two big tables. About ten people could sit at them. Then there was the four seaters (Like booths against the wall) But they had a little space left so they made a two seater booth. It wasn’t a very big restaurant but we were usually busy ever night except Sundays.

Us ‘table’ girls also made the drinks for the customers that sat down to eat so if it was a busy night my legs and arms would feel it the next day. If it got too busy I’d yell for one of the managers to help me make the drinks. It’s no small feat making three milkshakes and four coffees at the same time. Especially when there were two milkshake mixers and two coffee makers. (I used to make damn good milkshakes too!)

One night the power went out in that part of town, but we had generators so we stayed open. And at dinner time people were squashed in from corner to corner. The order bell was ringing every few seconds. The counter girls were taking orders left right and centre. And I was running around like a mad person making drinks and greeting new customers. The outside tables which were never really busy was packed as well. People buying dinner because they couldn’t cook.

I still remember the couple that sat down at the two seater booth that night. I suspect they were in their late twenties to early thirties. I was extremely busy and one tends to overlook or, should I say not pay attention to the small table as one would the bigger ones. More people are more demanding. But anyway. I took their drink order. Zipped to the back and made them, brought them to the couple. Took their food order - a half a chicken and chips (fries) for him and a footlong steakroll for her - in between stopping by the other diners asking if they needed anything. The gap leading into the kitchen and the front of the restaurant was right across from the two seater. If I walked out into the dining area and kept walking straight, I’d walk right up to their table. (Just to give you an idea of the layout.)

The restaurant pre-ordered the chickens so we has only a certain amount of half chickens in the kitchen. They’d remind us every half an hour or so: ‘Eight half chickens left’.

So when the couple’s meal came I had to rush to the back and get it. I should also mention the plates weren’t very deep. So I turned the corner. The two white flat plates balancing on my palms. The chicken smothered in a very yummy bbq sauce. But I took the corner a little to fast. Everything from there on out is like slow motion. I saw the half chicken take flight, up into the air almost like it’s one wing was working again and it was making a last attempt at getting away before it was to be eaten. And as if this wasn’t bad enough, it crash landed under the couple’s (the couple who’s meal it was supposed to be) table. I got down on my knees and crawled under their table to retrieve the rebellious half chicken. The whole restaurant was like one person laughing. And it gets worse. It was the last half chicken. So there I was, with the dripping half chicken resting in my palm. With the whole restaurant laughing. Profusely apologising to the couple, my face redder than a beetroot. They didn’t think it was as funny as all the other diners. They shared her footlong steakroll. And when the bill came they paid the exact amount that was outstanding. No tip for me. That was one of the single most mortifying experiences of my life. At least all the other diners tipped me well because they had such a good laugh. And it taught me to take that corner a little slower from there on out.

So tell me. What is one of the most embarrasing things that have ever happened to you?

Also - LOOK WHAT I GOT IN THE MAIL TODAY!

THANKS CANDEE! I can’t wait to start reading it! (P.S Let me know when your parcel gets there?) And thanks for the home made card! Now I see the glitter glue you always talk about! It’s so pretty!

~ by sleepyjane on October 16, 2007.