Say Your Prayers
(I work as a waiter at a religious Jewish camp. The way we normally clear the tables is tie up the ends, remove anything reusable or of value that was left behind, and drag the whole thing into the trash. One night I just cleared one of my tables when one of my campers and her counselor walk in.)
Me: *smiling* “Hey, what’s up?”
Camper: “I left my pink siddur (Jewish prayer book) behind.”
(I search the shelves, benches, and floor to see if it was picked up or fell somewhere, but I can’t find it.)
Me: “Where’s the last place you remember seeing it?”
(She points to table I just cleared. I stare in horror and rush to the trash can I just dumped the tablecloth and all of the night’s meal into. I shuffle the can around to see if I can see anything but no dice. I look back up at her.)
Me: *beginning to panic* “Are you sure you left it on the table?”
(She nods yes. I look back down at the trash. This was a religious item so it was extremely important. I roll up my sleeve and reach into the trash. I shuffle and move things around, looking for any hint of a pink prayer book. Instead I touch all the leftovers the kids didn’t finish. After a while I bring my arm out, apologize and go to wash my entire arm with soap. Twice. When I come back I begin to apologize to her again but she that’s when she interrupts me with a realization.)
Camper: “Wait a minute! My friend borrowed it from me after dinner!”
Me: *staring at her long and hard while trying not to laugh at the situation and what I just did for her* “YOU TELL ME THAT NOW?!”
(I became her favorite waiter from that point on.)
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What is the absolute most stupid thing you’ve heard a customer say?
