You Gotta Wait For Them To Leave The Building Before You Rant

I work in a family-owned hotel that has a five-star rating, though it’s not somewhere I personally would stay if I was looking for five stars. Our customers are a mix of locals and tourists, though the five-star rating attracts wealthy clientele looking to “splash the cash.”

The same older gentleman has been coming on the same evening every fortnight for several years. He comes at the same time and orders the same bottle of wine and the same meal. I think he’s lovely; he’s very polite, friendly, and chatty (on the right subjects), and he eats, drinks, pays his bill, and leaves without any issues.

The customer is very wealthy, but he’s humble and you wouldn’t know by looking at him. Tipping in the UK isn’t a given and we earn a “living wage” that is slightly higher than the national minimum.

I’m stood at the bar making drinks when my colleague storms over with his bill and starts ranting loudly.

Coworker: “Can you believe it?! No effing tip again! He’s f****** loaded but can’t spare for a tip?!”

Me: “Don’t worry about it. My table has left a nice tip; let’s share it.”

Coworker: “That’s not the point, is it?! He shouldn’t come here if he isn’t going to tip! What a skinflint!”

I’ve suddenly noticed that the customer has followed her out, presumably for his coat. He’s stood by the bar quite calmly watching her rant.

Customer: “Might I have my jacket? The taxi’s here.” 

My coworker goes bright red and storms off out of sight, leaving me at the bar to get his coat and apologise for her behaviour.

Customer: “Don’t you worry yourself over her behaviour. My mother always said that bulls*** won’t stick to the sun.”

And he left.

When I quit several months later to travel Asia, at the end of my shift, I found that [Customer] had left me a thank-you card with a manager who said to open it when I got home. Inside? A traveller’s check for £100 with a note saying, “in case of emergencies”. 

No, I didn’t tell [Coworker].