The evening started off badly. One of my first tables was a group of three middle aged women and a little boy. I literally had to stop three steps away from the table and take a deep breath to compose myself before dropping off their drinks. Here's what happened: they completely ignored me when I greeted them. They looked me dead in the eye as I cheerfully stated my name and my intentions to be their server tonight... and then they turned and continued to talk about "George's new dog." So I smiled and waited. And fumed. Two of the women ordered tea and then snapped at me two seconds after I delivered it because the tea was "disgusting" and not sweetened. So I tasted tea from both urns and confirmed that it was indeed infused with an unhealthy amount of sugar, and took them new teas. They sent those back, saying they still weren't sweetened. I told them we had checked and they were most certainly sweetened, but if they liked it sweeter, there was sugar on the table and I'd be happy to bring them a spoon. They got bitchy and said sugar won't dissolve in cold tea, and that our unsweetened tea was gritty from all of the undissolved sugar... yeah, I was confused at the logic as well... so I brought them cokes. And they stiffed me. I hate people sometimes...
Later, as I was trying to show off for my manager, I helped a coworker with the heap of dishes he carried by grabbing a large plate which had 3 smaller plates stacked on top. You can see where this is going, I'm sure. He enthusiastically thanked me for my help right in front of my manager!!!! So I looked good. Really good. I was the hard working helper! I had time to serve my own tables and help others with their work. What an employee, right? I should be given a raise! A free meal! Something to award my hard work and kindness...
Unfortunately for me, the coworker I was helping is not aware of basic principles like gravity... the plates were not balanced well, and as soon as I rounded the corner into the kitchen, all three plates teetered and fell from off of the larger dish. There was an instant when I noticed the smaller plates were gone, but had not yet hit the floor. I was utterly confused. Had someone grabbed them from me so quickly I didn't notice? Was I hallucinating and there had never been any plates? Just as the truth crept into my shocked mind, I heard the deafening crash that confirmed the dishes' location. All three plates shattered into a billion tiny pieces, and I stopped in my tracks. There were other people standing around me and for a moment, there was utter silence as they all stared at my mistake. I knew Manager was still standing outside the door and must have heard it too. Sure enough, he poked his head around the door while I was still dumbfounded and shook his head at me. He shook his head! I was a failure! I had broken a dish. I had broken three dishes. I was a liability to the team, not an asset! I could see all of these thoughts so clearly on Manager's face and my innards reeled in agony at the offense I had just committed. Why me? I don't deserve this!!
The spell broke and I walked the final 3 steps to the dishwasher and handed him my one remaining plate with a look of pitiful self loathing. The other servers had already grabbed broom and dustpan and hurried to destroy the evidence of my wrongdoing. All was forgiven and no one was hurt. Except for my delicate pride. Now every time I walk into work, they all look at me and I can see it in their eyes "She broke a plate. She broke three plates. She's a failure."
I don't know if I'll ever recover, but I do know that our tea has plenty of fucking sugar in it.
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