I stood behind the hostess stand, mindlessly wiping down menus just to give my hands something to do. It was early afternoon, and Boogie’s Diner was less than packed. My mind still played with the locker incident, drawing me back to that every time I tried to let it go.
Perhaps if you don’t forget it, you won’t make the same moronic mistake again, my mind spat angrily.
“Nessa, your tables almost done.” Kelly said, coming up behind me and taking over my position as menu cleaner. Oh yes, we worked hard.
My lip tugged in a small half smile. Far more genuine than the smile I’d bestowed on my boss earlier that morning. “Thanks, Kel.”
I ambled over to the table where a man and two ladies sat finishing their meals. I smiled wide, putting on all the charm I could muster. “Hi there, can I get you folks anything else, perhaps some dessert?” I asked, knowing the answer would be no. Funny thing about regular customers, they never really changed.
“No, just the bill,” said the man.
I slipped the bill onto the table face down. “I’ll be your cashier when you’re ready, have a fantastic day.”
I knew without a doubt that the man would be the one to pick up the bill, and he would pay in cash. The tip he left wouldn’t be great, but it would be decent. He would help the woman sitting next to him into her jacket, and then open the door for them as they exited. I studied all three of them as he completed the acts that I knew he would, and I found myself in a state of total intrigue.
Routine is such a strange thing. Those little things we act on daily, mostly without even realizing we are doing them. I wake up every morning at the same time, turn on the shower, and brush my teeth… Everything I do every day is routine. I come to work, wait on the same tables, mostly the same people.
I didn’t see my dog, Jelly, doing the same thing every week. At least she knows how to change it up. Sometimes she sleeps on the couch, sometimes on the bed, sometimes on the rug in the bathroom. There was no pattern to her choices. Humans though… we liked pattern.
The bell on the door chimed, drawing my attention away from my thoughts. I smiled at the familiar face. “Benjamin! Your seat is open, help yourself, and I’ll bring your diet coke to you in a second.” I said with a legitimate grin.
“Thanks, gorgeous.” He said, tipping his hat in the charming way he always did.
Benjamin was the most routine oriented people I’d ever met. He came in the same three days a week, sat in the exact same spot, ordered the exact same meal, and paid the exact same price. He always tipped me generously, which I appreciated. Not to mention, he always requested that I wait on him. I wasn’t sure if that was for the sake of routine or because I was the only one that could remember his order by heart.
It was a very specific order.
Benjamin was an attractive guy, dirty-blonde hair that he never let get too long, pale green eyes that always sparkled with a glint of humor, a magnificent smile, and he always wore a fedora. Always. He was tall and husky, probably standing over a foot taller than me.
I brought his diet coke over to his usual table and set it down on the napkin he had folded into a square for me.
“Here you are, kind sir.” I told him with my usual flourish.
He grinned. “Why, mi’lady, you are all too kind.” He said, removing his hat and bowing his head gallantly.
I laughed at his antics. “Ok, a bacon burger, no cheese, onions, pickles, tomatoes, or condiment of any kind. Bacon burned… no excuse me, extra crispy… with seasoned fries and a house salad with no tomato or cucumber with a side of ranch?” I asked.
“And she gets it right every time. Your memory is wonderful, mi’lady.”
I giggled again and knocked his hat over his eyes playfully. “That’s because you never change it, Benjamin.”
“Why would I ever change such a perfect order?” He said, pushing his hat back up, his eyes were laughing at me.
I shook my head, still pleased, and brought his order to the cooks.
Benjamin was my favorite customer by far.
Official greeting over, let's go. Hopefully I'll be a little more constructive this time.
Perhaps "I tugged my lips into a smile," could work more effectively? 