[CJFusco]

Working in an Italian restaurant, one night a family came in for dinner about five minutes before we lock the doors for the night (10pm weekdays, 11 on weekends). That in itself is annoying, because it means we will be at work until 45 minutes or so after we close instead of being able to leave right away, but company policy is that we take any tables up until closing time and give them the same service that we would treat a customer to at 6 or 7PM.

My friend Shannon, being the closing server for the night, took the table. The people were rude, condescending, never said please or thank you, etc. Now, a majority of the tables that come in just before closing are apologetic about staying so late - and believe me, this goes a long way to assauge the server's annoyance - and the ones that aren't are usually at least polite and tip well, recognizing that they are keeping the entire staff late. Usually it's no big deal. Staying late some times is part of our job, so we do it.

This table, however, not only treated Shannon like *****, but they took their sweet time, leaving well after an hour-and-a-half or so after closing time. There were no other tables in the restaurant at this point, but Shannon refused to let us turn up the house lights for cleaning, or turn off the music, because she was counting on the big tip (which late-comers usually leave) and didn't want to jeopardize it by making the table feel rushed.

So, the table leaves. We cast up the lights and put up the rest of the chairs. Shannon looks in the check presenter. Guess what they left her? A big fat ZERO was written in the tip line on the credit card slip. Needless to say, we were all upset. Hourly rate for most servers is about $5, most of our living wage coming from tips.

Well, she was upset, but life goes on. As we are getting ready to leave for the night, we look outside, and the family is still there in the parking lot.

Their brand new Mercedes SUV had a big ol' flat tire.

I have an air compressor and a can of fix-a-flat in the trunk of my Olds. Now, NORMALLY I would be the type to stop and lend a hand............