Trigger warning: This chapter contains mentions of blood and violence.
We started my training with some simple rules. Nothing too difficult, the rules were some basic manners like be polite and call the customers ma'am and sir. They got me to try to take some orders and get the gist of things. Taught me how to clean off the tables and what to do to get the tables ready for new customers. Most of the customers were pretty sweet but I officially have a newfound respect for those customer service workers who can deal with rude customers without losing their temper. I met this one lady who brought her 2 kids in.
"Welcome, ma'am. How may I help you?" I said before bowing.
"Yes yes, we need a table for 3 and hurry it up we don't have all day," she said all snobby-like.
"Right away ma'am please take a seat while we get your table ready," I said slightly annoyed with the tone she's using.
"There's a table right over there why can't we just sit there?" She snapped pointing at the dirty table that had plates still on it. The table could only seat 2 people at most and even so I'd still think only 1 person could fit at that table.
"Oh, we have to clear that off and wipe the table before you may be seated. The table also can only seat 2 people at most. It'll take a few minutes before you may be seated ma'am." I said attempting to keep my composure.
"Well then hurry up why are you still standing here?" She yelled before sitting down. If I had talked to her any longer I would've lost my sanity and socked her right in the nose.
Just then Eli came up to me and asked if I was ok and why that woman was shouting.
"She was pissed because I didn't seat her right away. She said they were in a hurry but we have no tables. Sorry if they disturbed the rest of the cafe."
"Ah, it's alright. Luckily, that's all she's done. Be careful with that one she's might cause a bit more problems for you. Don't worry once you work here long enough you'll get used to rude customers. Keep up the good work." He said before patting me on the back and walking away.
I was gonna go clean off a table with a booth but then the little bell rang again. I was about to rush over there when Shayla greeted them so I went back to cleaning the table off. Before I heard the same lady yelling and snapping her fingers "EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME?!"
I rolled my eyes before heading over to them. "Yes, ma'am?" I tried to say in the friendliest way. I heard her kids whispering 'stop mom' and 'you're embarrassing us'. I was about to say something when she turned to me and said.
"SEE?! My kids are embarrassed because of you." She said venom dripping from each word. "I wanted to know how much longer 'till our table we've been waiting for hours. And those people came after us yet they got seated first." She said pointing to the elderly couple that had come in and sat down at the tiny table.
"Well, ma'am those 2 had reservations and about your table, I'm cleaning off a table right now. You will be seated in 5-10 minutes at most. Please be patient." I said while my eye was twitching in annoyance.
"IS THAT ATTITUDE?! Young lady, just so you know my husband is the former manager of the Mcdonald's that is located on that little island off the coast of Mexico." She snorted before crossing her arms. and pointing a finger in my face. "I. CAN. GET. YOU. FIRED. In fact, I could shut this whole cafe down if I wanted to. Your lucky I'm too nice for that." she spat. I slowly wiped my face kind of disgusted that her spit got on my face.
"Like I said ma'am your table will be ready in 5-10 minutes at most. Now if you excuse me I'm going to go clean of your table now." I said before turning around. Just then she grabbed my arms. Her manicure slightly stabbing into me, not enough to draw blood. I yelped in a mixture of surprise and pain.
"Don't turn your back on me while I'm talking to you. I would like to talk to your manager. You are rude and lazy. I can't believe someone would hire someone like you." She snarled. Her kids attempted to stop her. But she just brushed them off telling them to stay out of this.
"Ma'am please refrain from touching our employees." Shayla came over attempting to reason with this lady.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" She yelled getting angrier by the minute, tightening her grip as red started to trickle down my arm. I had enough of this lady and I yanked my arm out of her grip causing this to leave a scratch on my arm.
"Ma'am I'm going to ask you to leave. Or we will be calling the police. Since you have harmed one of our employees we ask that you no longer come into our cafe either." Shayla stated and Eli had a phone in his hand showing this woman we would.
"NO! You can't do that I did nothing wrong. If anything you should call the police on her. I'm not leaving. You know what I'm calling cooperate. I'm reporting you and your little business for being rude." She yelled pointing in my direction. Digging for her phone and refusing to leave. At this point, customers started gathering around, one kneeling beside me asking if I was ok. Before I could answer, I assumed he noticed my arm before rushing off to ask for the first aid kit.
The kids then attempted to grab their mom and drag her out. She shook off her kids before telling them to stop and let her do what she "has to do". Some customers came in and noticed the situation and they attempted to talk some sense into this psycho.
Eli had enough and called the police. The police showed up and took this lady. She was yelling and throwing a tantrum while being escorted out. The kids apologized to us and all the trouble their mother caused us before asking if they could borrow a phone to call their father to come to pick them up. We handed the phone over and shortly after the father arrived and also apologized for his wife's behaviour. He begged us not to sue him and his family then gave all of us a $100 tip as an apology before leaving.
I got my arm cleaned and bandaged before they told me they were cutting my training short and telling me to go home and get some rest. It wasn't too bad of an injury it was equivalent to a cat scratch. They told me I did a great job handling it. And just like that, I headed home.