About two months ago, my best friend and I went to a local chain restaurant.  It was busy, but not unusual.  We eventually were seated in a booth in the back, and the hostess told us that someone would be with us shortly.

We sat down and waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Twenty-five minutes later, after observing that another couple who came in after us was seated and their meal orders taken, and after still another party of four came in and was served, we walked out.

Fast forward to this past weekend.

We stopped in at the same restaurant, and everything went smoothly – orders taken, served, and at the end, the bill was put down on the table.

Except it wasn’t ours.  It was for a party of four for about fifty dollars.

Thank goodness we looked at the bill first.  This wasn’t a casual mistake; nay – it was colossal.

Given these two incidents, we are hoping there isn’t a third, because that is our rule with places with which we do business – three mess ups, and that’s it.  We’re done with them.

©2022, excerpt from a forthcoming book, yet untitled by this author