Frustration and Temptation - Part I

One evening a couple of weeks ago, I went into an eating establishment to get a "chicken box" - just one breast and some fries. The guy waiting on me obviously thought he was the next best comedian since Richard Pryor (sigh!). Needless to say, I was not amused, but I maintained social politeness, so hopefully he'd just hurry up, and I'd soon be on my merry way.

A woman soon came into the deli, so this guy stopped fixing my food to take her food order which was very large. I was not happy about that, but I remained calm. But then he started fixing and packing her food instead of mine! Okay, inside I was thinking "Oh no, he di-ent!" I asked the guy very nicely if he remembered that I was there first, and that I really would like to get my order and be on my way.

He just looked at me and kept on preparing her food. The woman looked at me and shrugged as if to say, "What's with him?" but said nothing verbally. At this point I asked for the manager. There were employees standing around but no one moved or said a word. I looked at the guy, and he asked me not to get the manager. I asked him, "Why not?" He said, "Because I want you to wait". The woman and I exchanged glances like, "What the heck?!"

At this point, I was getting steamed, and I contemplated just leaving and going somewhere else. But I was extremely hungry!! And I also thought about the traffic light outside the strip mall that was not working. I'd have to fight traffic just to get out of the strip mall's lot, and I was REALLY hungry. (sigh!)

So I just stood there and watched and prayed. Watching to make sure when he finally fixed my food that he did not do something nasty to it, and praying to keep my cool, and my tongue silent. People let me tell you, God answers prayers!

Anyway, he finally finished the other woman's order, and she walks off. Then this knucklehead says to me, "I wasn't trying to be mean or anything, actually I was looking out for you." I'm thinking,"Excuuuse me?" He goes on to explain that the chicken breast he gave me was really small, and they charge X amount of dollars for each one. He says, "The reason I made you wait was cuz I was trying to be nice and give you more than one and not charge you for them."

I told him that while I appreciated him "looking out for me," that I did not appreciate having to wait, and that I wanted to do the right thing. One breast for the cost of one breast. I also said, "Besides, the breast you picked is one of the smaller ones, but right there in the case is one that is much larger. Swap them for me."

He asked, "Are you sure you only want me to give you just one breast? That is why I had you wait cuz I was gonna do this nice thing for you, and I didn't want that woman to see me do it and snitch on me." At this point I admit I was losing patience. I said, "For real. Just one breast. Always do what is right, man." He eyed me and complied.

I paid and left wondering, "Lord, what was that all about?"

Click here for Part II. \0/