On Wednesday, I got a call from a guy named David who was calling to buy his friend dinner at the bar. I took his information. Made a note on the reservation and all was set.

His friend’s reservation was at 6:00. She arrived alone at 5:50. I sat her at the bar. She was very attractive. She reminded me of the hostesses at swanky restaurants that I couldn’t afford in New York. Tight dress. Heels. Perfect long brown hair, flowing down her shoulder.

She ordered a drink.

And waited.

And waited.

And.

Waited.

We all began to talk.

Was she being stood up? If she was waiting on a date, why did someone call to pay for the meal?

And she waited.

Her friend finally arrived at 8:00. She was just as attractive. Just as perfect.

The immediately ordered.

A 2” porterhouse.

As beautiful as they were.

45 minutes to cook.

They did this not knowing their meal was paid for.

She was ecstatic to learn that her friend David had called and paid.

She came up to make a reservation for tonight.

Two people at 6:00.

So tonight begins.

And 6:00 comes and goes and she’s a no show.

I mark her as such and move on with my night.

At 7:30 I look up and guess whose standing in front of me. She tells me in her thick accent, did I mention she is foreign, that she’s here for her reservation.

I explain that it was for 6:00. We are booked. The earliest I could get her a seat at the bar is 8:30. She’s not happy. But she takes it. She sits down in the lobby and waits about 6 seconds before she comes back to the host stand.

She swings her hair, pushes out her bottom lip, and asks, “Are you sure it’s going to be 8:30? Is there nothing you can do?”

I’m just standing there. Watching a 26 year old really hot girl flirt with an overweight middle aged gay man, thinking that her pouty lip and the toss of her hair is going to whoo me into bumping someone’s reservation.

I tell her no.

I get the feeling she’s not used to being told no by middle aged straight men.

I was flattered. But I’m thinking to myself, honey you’re gonna need a different trick for this to work.

I assured her I’d get her seated as quickly as possible but in the meantime there was nothing I could do.

She waited. With her sister.

Was seated a little after 8:00.

Ordered another 2” porterhouse that she paid for on her own.

PS. Mr Douglas from last night cancelled.