I’d like to speak to the manager!!!

Today started off with a bang.

I didn’t get to bed until almost 5:00 a.m.

When the alarm went off, I said fuck that. I reset my alarm for an hour later and tried to go back to sleep.

I got up an hour later, now an hour late for work.

I get to work and find the bar filled with people who have come to watch the World Cup.

I set up in the quietest place I can find.

I start returning messages.

Message 2 is from Michelle. I call her.

She answers and says that she is looking for a reservation next Friday night.

The catch is, next weekend, is the big annual Christmas celebration in our town. We are 98% booked already.

I look for a place for her there is nothing. I tell her this.

She practically begs. In a comical way.

She says that she will be making meatballs and will bring me some if I find her a reservation.

I assure her that I wish I could help.

I hang up and go on with phone calls.

When I’m done, on a whim I take a second look for Michelle.

I’ve said since I started this job, that it’s hard to find a hole to put someone in when they are staring at you. I often ask people to step aside and give me a second to find a spot.

I equate it to The Queen’s Gambit where she solves the problems on the ceiling.

Today I realized that I could move a 2-top, then a 4-top and there you go. A reservation for Michelle next Friday.

I call her and give her the news.

She is beyond happy. I tell her that I am glad I could help. And that we will see her next Friday.

Fast forward to 5:30.

I’m standing at the host stand and we see a woman marching in carrying something.

I say wonder what this is?

A woman walks in and says, Are you Jeff?

I reply yes.

She says, I’m Michelle. I brought you some meatballs.

Seriously.

She hands me a lasagna pan covered with foil.

It’s still warm.

I can’t believe this.

She tells me that she is very grateful that I got her a reservation next week. She tells me that she’ll pick up her pan next week.

And with that she is gone.

We let it cool. Then put it in the walk-in.

At the end of the shift the kitchen warmed it up for us.

Turns out it was pasta and meatballs.

And it was delicious.

The staff loved it.

It was a very sweet gesture.