Camaraderie

            The coolest thing about this business is the instant camaraderie amongst all food and beverage people. We feel each others pit falls as well as each others successes. We may have never met before, but when in a room together for the first time there is an instant bond. We all have each others backs as though we've known one an other for ever. Like family.
             It was another tough night, that was busy and demanding. Things were beginning to settle down when one of my waiters came to me and said that he wanted to show me something. We walked over to his section and he pointed at a table that once hosted four teenagers just a short time ago. They were gone but left behind a table topped with torn up napkins and overturned salt and pepper shakers and the sugar packets that once rested in a caddy, were thrown about. A napkin was left with a hand written message that simply said "Please read all...clean up our mess" I felt bad for the waiter, for he did have to clean it up knowing he made nothing off that table. I wish I had caught the little bastards out in the parking lot, but it was probably better that I didn't. After we closed we all met at our favorite watering hole where we get a chance to unwind and blow off some steam. Everyone had their stories that night of the demanding non tipping customers, but I felt the need to tell the one waiters story. I told it to our waitress, that I had never seen before that night, loud enough for the whole table to hear. All had their opinions on what they would have done to those ass holes. The waitress waiting on us now realized that we were family. She looked, the waiter that got screwed, right in the eyes and said "that sucks, people suck". He smiled and felt better because she truly cared. Better yet, we never had to wait for anything that night. Gotta love that camaraderie!