Who’s Teaching Who Manners

(I bus tables at a buffet-style restaurant. I approach a table of two middle-aged women and a girl who looks to be around eight years old.)

Me: “Hello! I’ll be your service assistant today. How is everything tasting so far?”

Woman: “Fine.”

(I walk away and let them continue eating. I return about ten minutes later.)

Me: “Why don’t I get these empty plates out of your way?”

(Both women completely ignore me. I take the plates and start to walk away.)

Girl: *yells to her mom* “Shouldn’t you say ‘thank you’?!”

(I start giggling and duck into the bus station. Later, I return to the table to pick up the next round of plates.)

Both Women: *beaming* “Thank you!”

(The majority of people do not tip us. They end up leaving me $5.)