The Bolt

I walked into the Harvey's restaurant and placed my order for a breakfast sandwich and coffee. The order-taking lady spoke into the intercom microphone, and quickly parroted my order to the kitchen staff. Shortly after I ordered, another man walked up and didn't speak at all - the lady behind the counter merely spoke into the microphone again: "regular customer, eggs over easy, bacon and white toast". The man thanked the lady for remembering his order, and he paid for his food. As I stood there waiting for my order, I was somewhat curious what kind of special treatment the "regular customer" tagline was going to give this person - was he going to get extra bacon? extra toast? (Well, I suppose he already did get one more thing than I did... clairvoyant service!)

Just after Mr. Regular and I received our orders (I think he got extra bacon), another woman in her early 20's walked up and started talking with the order lady. I would have walked away to eat my order somewhere comfortable, but this new woman's banter was interesting since she started talking as if she and the order lady were friends. I sat down a few chairs away and listened; the conversation went like this:

Order Lady: May I take your order?

Customer: Hey, how's it hanging? Having a good morning?

Order Lady: I'm fine. Would you like to order?

Customer: Yeah, boy I'm really looking forward to a burger. Are you guys making burgers yet? It is time?

Order Lady: (looks back at the clock behind her) Yes, you may order a burger.

Customer: Oh, great. So, are you gonna have a great day today? I mean, is it going to get busy do you think?

Order Lady: I'm not sure. (stares at customer, waiting for order)

[By now, it's painfully obvious to me, eavesdropping and watching, that the customer wants something from the order lady, but hasn't worked up the nerve to ask. Oh, this is entertaining.]

Customer: So, are you from India? Because I had a boyfriend one time, and he was from India...

Order Lady: Yes, I am. Your order?

Customer: Oh that India, what a neat place, hey?

(no response from the order lady, just a glare)

Customer: Oh, OK. Um, so, yeah, I'll have a single burger with cheese...

Order Lady: (speaking into the microphone) Cheeseburger!

Customer: ...and I guess you're just getting done the breakfast orders then, hey?

Order Lady: Yes. Would you like fries or a drink?

Customer: I bet you have some bacon left over from the morning, hey friend?

Order Lady: We have bacon.

Customer: So, could I maybe get you to throw a couple slices of bacon on my burger then? (pathetic smile)

Order Lady: Bacon is one dollar per slice extra if you wish to add it.

Customer: Oh.

Order Lady: Would you like to add bacon to your burger?

Customer: You couldn't just throw on a slice as a favour, then, hey?

Order Lady: Bacon is one dollar per slice extra if you wish to add it (said with a blank expression - no malice at all, she's just tired of this).

Customer: No, I'll just get the burger. (sigh)

All of the above was interesting to me because here on one hand was Mr. Regular, who asked for nothing yet received special treatment. Then came Ms. Bacon, who asked for special treatment yet received none. Mr. Regular obviously had some existing relationship with the Order Lady that didn't need to be affirmed - it just was. As much as Mr. Regular enjoyed his extra bacon, I'm sure that the Order Lady derived as much pleasure in being generous with him.

The false friends are usually easy to spot a mile away, it just takes a bit of backbone to call them on it. I admit that the Order Lady's job was made a bit easier since it was correct and company policy for her to say no to Ms. Bacon's request, but I've seen people get taken advantage of by these false friends in the past (myself included) because they didn't just step up and say "no".