Saddest Story

I'm facebook friends with a lot of you, but for those of you who I don't know, this is what I look like (it's relevant to the story).

For my job, sometimes I'm a manager. This was the case on Sunday.  It was getting to be the end of the night, so there weren't a lot of tables in the restaurant.  We're supposed to do table visits as managers to make sure that the food and service are great.  Usually this happens when entrees are out.  So I go to check on this table.  It's a family--mom, dad, two young girls.  I would say the girls were about six and eight.  They were giggling and having a great time when I approached the table.  I did my spiel, made sure everything was good, and told the girls I was glad they were having a good time.  Nothing out of the ordinary.

A bit later, the server of that table came to me and asked if everything was good with that table.  I said yes.  She said that they were asking for the manager and one of the little girls was crying.  I thought that was weird, but went back to the table, not knowing what to expect.

It was just the father and the older girl at the table, and she was indeed crying.  Practically sobbing.  The dad says "we asked you back here because she has something to say to you."  So I look over at the girl, who won't look at me.  She manages to say "I'm sorry."  She's clearly embarrassed and I am feeling so bad for her, while still being so very confused.  So I look back at the dad.  He says to me, "After you walked away, she asked 'was that a girl or a boy,' and we didn't know if you heard or not, but I didn't like it and I won't stand for it, so she's apologizing to you."

At this point, the girl just starts saying "I'm sorry" over and over.  So I told her that I accepted her apology, mostly to appease the father, and I told her that it was okay.  I told her I hoped she would come back and see me and that we could be friends if she wanted.  She said "I don't know if I can come back," still crying, and it practically broke my heart.  So I told her I hoped I would see her again soon.  I told the father thank you, because even though I don't agree with the way he went about it, I can appreciate that he's trying to raise his kids to not be judgmental.  At least, I hope that is what he's trying to do.  I don't know what he said to her, or if it was what he said that made her cry to that degree, or if she was just embarrassed to be having to apologize, but in my mind it was kind of unnecessary.

I sent the server out with two of our free kids meals cards and told her to tell the girl "no hard feelings," just trying to make her feel better.  I really do hope they'll come back and be okay.  It was so sad!

And for the record, I guarantee, as a girl with a haircut like mine, it's not going to hurt my feelings or offend me if you think I'm a boy.  Just saying.