Two Cups

It was only a sip...

As soon as Ezra and Sandy sat down after filling their drinks, they dug into their food and began chatting.

Midway through their meal, a manager-looking man approached the table. Normally, a manager walked among the restaurant patrons, stopping at tables to ask how their experience was, yet never really expecting much in replay.

This was not such an occasion.

Raymond the Shift Manager stood by their table and shook his head. He had a serious look on his face, a dislike for what he was about to do.

“Something the matter, sir?” Ezra asked.

“Yes, there is.”

He looked at Sandy. “Ma’am, can I see your receipt please?”

Sandy’s eyes darted back and forth and then over to Ezra. trying to recall if they even gave them one at the register, and if so, what would be on it the manager would want to see?

Fortunately, the receipt was still on the tray.

“Here it is,” Ezra said, handing it to the Shift Manager.

Raymond looked the receipt over and handed it back to Ezra.

“Just as I suspected, sir, ma’am. You paid for one drink and a water, but both of you have been drinking out of the same cup since you sat down.”

Sandy cleared her throat and said, “True, but I also have been drinking water from this cup.”

“That’s not the point, ma’am. Our margins in this business are razor thin as it is without some people welching on us.”

“Welching? Welching? But it was, it was only a sip,” said Sandy shaking her head in disbelief at the conversation she was having with this restaurant manager.

“I can’t tell you the number of times my customers tell me that. A sip here, a sip there. What’s the harm? The harm is, all these insignificant sips turn into full drinks. And beverages are really what makes restaurants like ours stay in business. I don’t know if you were aware of that.”

“Ok, um, so do you want me to go up and purchase a second drink then?”

“No. No need to. This warning should suffice for the next time you decide to pull a stunt like this.”

Raymond turned quickly and walked away. Ezra pursed his lips and looked at Sandy, shaking his head.

“Can you believe it, Ez?”

Ezra said nothing and returned to his food.

“That’ll probably be the last time I come here,” Sandy said.

“Really?”

“Yeah. That guy – that Raymond – just insulted us, Ez.”

Sandy paused and stared at Ezra. “You don’t seem to be upset.”

“All in a day, Sandy, all in a day.”

“I’m surprised at you, Ezra James. Normally, you’re more defensive.”

“Why should I be? We were in the wrong. Should’ve paid for two drinks.”

“It’s almost as if you were on his side.

“You didn’t read the receipt, did you, Sandy?”

Sandy picked up the receipt as she stared hard at Ezra.

She scanned it and found what she was looking for at the very bottom as part of the receipt text:

Good seeing you, Ezra. Let’s do lunch. Ray. Game on!

*******