Tonight began my official gift giving/receiving season. While the entire thing was rather magical -- full of anticipation, a dash of surprise, a strange mixture of relief and joy when the gift appeared to be just the thing and the perfect ending -- I will tell the story of dinner. A dinner that ended with a most unanticipated "gift."
(Some names and details have been replaced to protect the individuals featured in the story. I'm impressed I was able to use the entire alphabet to do so.)
J and K went out for dinner at restaurant Z. J arrived Y minutes before K which was surprising considering J's arrival back into town X minutes earlier. After being seated, J ordered a W and K a V. Their beverages arrived without a hitch.
When the server came back to take their meal order (J picked the U with a T and K an S), she didn't write it down. In hindsight, the fact that she confused J's order within 2 minutes should have been a sign. J and K chatted about the past few days, work challenges, the upcoming holiday season and others in the restaurant.
About R minutes later, the server reappeared plunked a plate of Q on the table. J thought she said, "Here's your meal." K heard, "Here's your Q" but didn't actually process the sentence. Obviously neither J nor K had ordered Q. The server stopped at a neighbouring table after which K got her attention and stated that Q had not been ordered. After apologizing profusely, she took the untouched plate, walked counterclockwise from their table, to the kitchen, and back to the neighbouring table. It appeared to J that she put the same plate on that table but refrained from making a pretend trip to P [pun intended] to confirm the observation.
Only O minutes later, server returns, again apologizes for the "delay" and states she will speak with a manager to see if something can be done about the bill. The meals come and are eaten.
Another neighbouring table is seated with N guests. It was noteworthy that the server pulled out her notepad to jot down their drink orders (M and L) and then as they ordered an I to share, a side of H, and an E, F and G. Their meals were noted to arrive without error.
Finally, after packing up half of J's U (mmmm lunch), the server noted we would only be charged for the S. It was a bit excessive, considering there wasn't really much of a delay and being comped with a D would have been more typical. Both J and K decided not to say C but to accept the windfall which had been afforded to them. After paying the bill and taking a B, both J and K were off to open an A or two.