A good tip for restaurant-goers

Betsy Paige

Our country has evolved a lot within the past hundred years; our schools have multiplied, our transportation has quickened, our job market has increased, and our justice system has improved from the old tar-and-feather method. The United States is the home of a free democracy, as well as some of the most talented athletes, musicians, and scholars in the world. Why, then, if we have evolved so much, has our restaurant etitique stayed in the dark of this change for the better?
Being a waitress in town is great, it helps you get a glimpse of what a fast-paced job is like, and occasionally is good for the wallet, as well. Even with all the tips, it is still disheartening to hear the words, “Table 4", and look up to see a family who does not belong in public, let alone with hot food and sticky drinks. You know what I’m talking about. The mother, a blonde in general, is talking on her cell phone, shouting phrases of, “No!” and “Yes, I’m out to eat with my family. No, I can’t call you back later.”, while occasionally looking over to her child of 2-4 years and mumbling things like, “Get down or you won’t get your spaghetti.”. The father, usually a man of larger stature, is sitting at the table, saying nothing. The children, depending on the number, are all over. The eldest, namely a boy, is playing Gameboy while shouting about more soda. The younger children in procession, are either crawling around the restaurant underfoot, grabbing for the mother’s phone, or screaming like there’s no tomorrow.
Not that this would necessarily be a bad experience for a waitress who has been working all morning, but there always seems to an incidence of rudeness. Most families go for the standard walk-up: an innocent, stressed waitress is at the computer, punching in orders, when a parent from table four comes up and mentions their child’s lack of refill. The waitress smiles, says something like, “Sure, I’ll be there soon”, and the parent retorts with a, “No, now.”. What else is this waitress to do, but abandon all her other tasks and attend only to table four?
Other things include: yelling at the waitress, get annoyed when she comes to ask how the food is, oh yeah, and tipping. In general these table fours tip little to nothing. It counteracts with the giant diamond on table four’s mother, the three gaming systems the oldest kid has, and the giant SUV that the Four’s pulled up in, but in general, the waitress will receive about five dollars for her hour of restaurant hell.
So, be patient with your food, if your waitress messes up, remember that she's human. Try to be as kind as possible, and grab hot plates off of the poor girl's hands as quickly as possible. And always remember to tip!
In the United States, we also have great leaders, people who are smart and have a plan of action. Our newest leader, Barack Obama, is all about change. So how about it, America? Why don’t we change what Barack Obama, Miss Manners, and your mother would all agree with: your table manners.