Unexpected

“Lexi, get over here now and deliver these plates! While they’re still hot!” Al shouted from the window of the kitchen.

Lexi finished taking her last order quickly, smiled at the customers, and headed to the kitchen window. She clipped the order up and took the plates, added in all the extras and made her way to deliver the food. She didn’t snap at Al, and she smiled sweetly at everyone. She was the only waitress and she was moving as fast as her legs would carry her around the 50-seat diner. It seemed the diner was always packed, probably because of its location, but it was very much understaffed. This was not on Lexi or Al, but rather on Brian, the manager.

David watched the flow of the room from his position in the corner of the diner. His company owned several diners, including this one, and he made notes in his little black book. It was the best way he could keep track of each diner he visited; he drew the layout and added in the little details about the staff, the manager, and any nuances. No one on staff knew who he was, and he wanted to keep it that way for now. He needed to see how each diner worked and how the personnel dealt with each other and the public. David had one little black book for each diner he visited. He kept careful notes about each person he met, and each diner he visited. David was surprised that he hadn’t see the manager Brian in the two days he had been here; but he continued to peruse the events unfolding in the diner. He did love the extra touches Lexi put on his meals. She made sure there was fresh orange slices and lettuce for his breakfast and she added tomatoes and lettuce for his lunch. She definitely put her touch on the dishes. He was impressed with Lexi and her attention to detail. She didn’t waver from her job and she didn’t complain about the amount of work she had to do. She just did it and did it well, always with a smile on her face.

Lexi finished serving the lunch crowd and started her rounds on coffee and water. She made notes of which tables needed refills on sodas and took a second round to refill all of those. She checked in with each table to make sure they had all they needed and she stopped by David’s table and topped of his water, asking him if he needed anything else. She gave him a warm smile and then moved on. The diner was open for breakfast and lunch only, which gave Lexi time with her twin boys in the late afternoon. David watched Lexi’s routine and how she also checked the tables out at the register. She was a very hard worker and she did her job well. The diners responded to her and he guessed the tips were good, if the jar was any indication. She was the best employee he saw on his diner tour this month. This was his last stop and he decided to take a couple of extra days for himself. He would be making his decision as to which waitress would receive the bonus he was pondering giving. He was concerned though that he hadn’t seen Brian in the time he had been there.

Lexi wiped down tables and chairs, swept under each table, and checked the levels of salt/pepper and sugar, and tidied up her station. She had a couple of new tables of customers and a few at the counter, but the rush was over. Al sat back in the kitchen waiting for more orders, but he made no move to help out in the front. David noted that too. Al didn’t seem to be very involved except to cook. Lexi headed back to David’s table.

“Can I get you anything else? Pie, ice cream?” She asked with a very pleasant smile on her face.

“I’m good. Thanks though.” He smiled at her and she moved on to clean the booths along the window. She served the last of the customers and shortly after two Brian wandered in and put the closed sign on the door. Al jumped up and started to clean the kitchen and shut down for the day. Lexi grabbed her refill bucket and started in on each table. She systematically filled and set up each table for the morning. It was phenomenal to watch. She worked her way through the restaurant, always with a smile on her face. Once the fills were complete and the shakers all wiped down, she got hot water, sanitizer, and a fresh cloth and cleaned every table, not just the top but the sides and the chairs too. She went above and beyond what was required. She allowed them to dry and then went back and put the chairs upside down on the tables.

Just as she finished wiping down the counters her twins came crashing through the door. They saw their mom and ran to her, hugging her legs. They looked to be about eight years old. Both of them were blond and pretty cute too. Lexi had auburn hair and beautiful hazel eyes. Her eyes sparkled at her boys. David didn’t see a ring, but she may choose not to wear it while she was working.

“Hi guys. Did you have a good day at school?” Both of them started talking at once and Lexi was doing her best to listen to her very animated boys. She laughed with them and finally got them sitting at the employee table to the right of the cash register. They had a little bit of homework to do, so she got them started. Brian came back out and checked the cash register, took all the tips and divided them between Al and Lexi. Lexi got out snacks for her boys and paid Brian for them. David watch all of this with fascination. It seemed odd that he would split the tips that Lexi earned with Al in the kitchen. Interesting.

“Lexi,” Brian said quietly as he came to the table where her boys were. “Who is the man in the far booth?”

“His name is David and he’s been here all day. I think he’s catching up on some work.” She said. “He’s been here for the last couple of days. I’m guessing he’s working from the booth. Why?”

“Just curious. Thanks.” Brian finished the cash register and took the bank bag to his office. He came back out and wandered over to where David sat. Lexi could hear them talking, but she was busy with her work so she paid little attention to them.

“Hi. I’m Brian and I’m the manager of this restaurant. Was everything ok with your meal today?”

“Yes Brian it was. I’m David.” David motioned for him to sit.

The two men talked for the next hour or so while Lexi finished her work. David asked about Lexi and Brian told him she was a single mother of the twin boys he saw at the table. David finally told Brian who he was and why he was there. Both of them watched Lexi work. She cleaned the floors throughout the restaurant with the steam cleaner and checked on her boys a couple more times. Finally, Lexi was ready to call it a day. She wandered over to where David and Brian sat talking and asked if they needed anything else before she left.

“Thanks Lexi. See you tomorrow.”

“Good night.” She wandered back to the boys. They gathered their books and backpacks. She herded them out the door and left Brian and David talking.

“So David, did you get everything you needed then on your visit the last couple of days?” Brian asked.

“I did. I have visited all the diners I own in the Tri-State area. I will be picking one of these employees and giving them a nice bonus.” Brian was surprised.

“Can I ask how much the bonus is?”

“Yes. It’s a $20,000 bonus; it will represent a job well done.” David said matter-of-factly.

“Wow.” Brian thought a bit more. “Have you made a decision as to which employee will receive this bonus?”

“I have a bit more information to put into my files, but I will have that information soon. I will be making decisions on all the diners in my network. Some of them need new management and others need additional employees.” David watched Brian shift uncomfortably in his seat. “Is Lexi your only server?”

“Yes. She handles everything well, so there was no need to bring in any more overhead.”

“Can I ask why you split the tips between Lexi and Al?”

“Well, Al does a great job cooking and he deserves tips too. He cooks the food.”

“I see. Thanks for answering my questions Brian. I’ll be back in the morning for breakfast and then I’m headed home.” David gathered his notes, his black book and his computer. He stood, shook hands with Brian and headed to his hotel.

David was back the next morning for breakfast. Lexi greeted him, waited on him and went about serving all the rest of her customers. David watched while he ate and read the newspaper. Brian still had not made an appearance. While David was eating he looked over his notes. His decision made, he thanked Lexi for her service over the last three days and he handed her an envelope.

“Lexi, thank you for your hard work. This is for you. Please keep it safe and look at it when you get home tonight.” She took the envelope and slipped it into her apron pocket.

“Thank you David. I’m glad you enjoyed your meals here. Have a good trip to wherever you are heading.” She smiled at him, shook his hand and he headed out the door. Lexi made it through her day and finally headed to the ballpark to meet her kids for the baseball game. While she had a moment she opened the envelope from David. The envelope contained a note of thanks for her hard work and commitment to her job and a cashier’s check for $20,000. He congratulated her for the effort she put into her job and told her he was the CEO of parent company that owned her diner. His card was also included.

Lexi sent up prayers of thanks. This money was a godsend to her and her boys. She would be able to put money away, investing it, for their college tuition and be able to get them both computers for their schoolwork. Lexi realized she touched David with the work she did. He made a difference in her life too. Life was funny. Today was a great day! Very unexpected!