I took the precaution of bringing my lunch because something told me I had better eat before opening because it was going to be a busy day. I was right. Diners and well-wishers came through the doors almost non-stop, with everyone in a festive mood. It was hectic, but great fun.
Highlight (or low-point, depending on your perspective.) While I was seating a party of 6 in an almost full dining room, the phone rang (as it had all day). The barman answered the call, couldn't understand the caller, and as I returned to my station, asked me to take the call. (Mind you, the bar was full, as well.) I took the call and couldn't make out what the person was saying, I asked the person to repeat their request; they hung up.
All this time I had a line of customers waiting for tables, so I dismissed the call as a cell phone glitch and returned to seating the waiting parties as quickly as possible, asking their forgiveness for the delay.
During a brief lull in activity later, Joe (Loco1) popped up to see how things were going and asked about a phone call from a nasally sounding person asking about a magnet left the night before. I stared at him, not wanting to believe what I was thinking; he broke up laughing so hard, there were tears on his cheeks. My shock turned to anger and I said, "you sonofabitch, I am up to my eyeballs with folks visiting to celebrate your 20th anniversary, and you think it's cute/funny to pull a prank like this? I will march you over to any table complaining about having to wait so you can explain and apologize to them yourself."
I was pissed off briefly until I realized this was his restaurant, not mine. These were his customers being inconvenienced. It was all his to lose. I shook it off and had fun the rest of the afternoon. As I ended my shift he came up and asked if I was angry. "No", I said, "but about 10 diners were not happy having to wait while I attended to your prank call. As I said earlier, this is your restaurant and the burden ultimately falls on your shoulders, not mine." Finished.
If I thought the lunch crowd was big (about 200 customers!) I am told the dinner crowd was more than double that number. I will confess that by the end of my shift I was pretty beat and ready for a cocktail and quiet walk home. Both helped.
After downing a light supper, took a shower and hit the sheets early. I remember nothing until 5 am this morning. Slept well and woke rested. Who can ask for more?
Today was another busy day - leftover visitors from the anniversary - and I was chosen to draw the winning ticket for the 55" TV. No more pranks and not a word about them. That's as it should be.
And so it goes.
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And what day was it again? Just get back at them, pull a prank youself, but don't wait another year.
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