Chapter Forty - Three
Nelson was not lying when he told me that one could hardly make cash out of this place. Only he was underestimating it by a large degree. You, not only, can hardly make any cash at this place but you can hardly survive here.
It was not until late afternoon that we got our first customer. While we had been awake since early morning. Our opening hours had long since been gone and we just got our first customer here.
It was a middle-aged man who entered the restaurant in the afternoon. He looked to be a person who worked for a company and got here to eat something for lunch. It was his first time, it was obvious from the way he glanced around. From the way he was sweating, I was half sure that he only entered this place to escape the sunlight and heat from outside.
I thought about approaching him, Nelson was busy in the kitchen. Hopefully, he was not a jerk. I had no idea how to deal with bad customers. This was my first encounter as a waitress, I did not want it to be a sour experience.
Walking over to him, I cleared my voice to catch his attention. "Umm ... Sir."
The guy appeared startled for a minute before he composed himself and let out a burst of nervous laughter. "We offer the best Japanese food here. Would you like to come inside?" I asked him politely.
Please don't be rude. Please don't be rude. This is my first experience. Please don't be rude.
"Sure. I would love to." He said, laughing like he was embarrassed or something. His embarrassed laughter put me at ease. Not a rude customer. Thank god. Polite, respectful and nice. Works for me. I would not have any problem serving him.
I smiled my genuine smile and nodded my head. "Please, follow me." I told him and led him to the main dining room.
I chanced a glance at him. He was sweating and was feeling heated. The AC was on in the house so he would cool down soon enough. We walked into the room and I gestured to him to take a seat near the tables.
I thought about making small talk to him, to start a conversation and to put both of us at ease. However, before I could say something he spoke up.
"Aren't you too young to work at a place like this?" He questioned putting his bag on the side of the table and sitting down on the ground. His question for once caught me off guard but not for long.
"This is my grandparents' restaurant. I work here to help them. They are not here so I'm helping out." I told him.
"Wow. You're a good kid." He said and I smiled. Who knew lies would come to me so easily? But I've been training in this field for a long time.
He picked the menu from the table and I told him our options. I have read the menu twice or thrice so I knew what was written there. I told him about our special dishes and current offers. Soon, he decided and told me his order which I wrote down on my notepad.
"By the way, Sir. There's the washroom if you wanna wash your hands before your order arrives." I told him before taking my leave. Does the waiter tell their customer to use the washroom? Did I just say something stupid? I wish it was not something stupid. I walked inside the kitchen and told Nelson the order.
I ripped the paper out of my notebook and pasted it on the upper counter. I was still thinking if it was stupid or not when Nelson spoke up.
"What's wrong?" He asked, bringing me back from the bubble of my thoughts.
"Huh?" I asked when I paid attention to what he was asking of me.
"You are lost in thoughts. What happened? Did this customer say something to you?" He questioned without looking up. He was busy with the man's order.
"Ummm ..." I thought about telling him but was not sure. What if I was wrong for suggesting it? Was I overthinking it?
"You want to tell me. So, tell me." He said, calling me out. I thought screw it and asked him.
I bit my lip.
"Do you tell your customer to wash their hands before the food arrives?" I asked him, feeling my heartbeat speed up. Please don't tell me that I embarrassed myself.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Nelson remained frozen where he was standing and looking over the food in the pan. But then, he slowly moved his head and looked at me.
I was waiting and waiting and waiting ... when
He suddenly burst out laughing. My heart galloped at his sudden reaction. The shock gave away to confusion when he shook his head as he continued chuckling.
"Really. This is what you were so worried about? God, and here I thought." He stopped speaking because he was still laughing. Finally, when his laughter died down, he turned to me.
"Did you tell him to go wash his hands before eating?" He asked, looking at me all amused and mischievous. Like he found me naive and adorable.
I frowned. "Well, not like that. I told him where the bathroom was, in case he wanted to wash his hands." I told him. My reasoning is coming out a bit defensive. Which, honestly, I was. He made me sound, ridiculous, and naive but most of all dumb at the same time. I did not think that question was dumb. Although, maybe I should not have asked him this. Now, he would laugh about it whenever he remembered it.
It was embarrassing.
"You usually don't tell your customers the direction of the bathroom until they ask for it. But, you don't have to sweat too much, now that you have told him. It doesn't matter." He told me. Then to himself, "I still can't believe that you were being so serious about a thing like that."
My frown deepened. This jerk.
Nelson turned around to me and handed me the plate with the customer's order. "Forget about it. Now, take this and go back to the customer. And this time, try not to tell him to wash his hands." Another fit of laughter.
God, he was a jerk.