When dealing with people, you’re going to come across rude people. As sure as the sun rises and sets. As sure as the grass is green and oak trees are tall. As sure as the sky is blue and clouds are white. I’ve learned that the hungrier or thirstier the customer is, the more easily agitated they can get.

But sometimes, they are just plain rude. And sometimes, their children are just as rude. And at other times, a tired server forgets she is on the clock.

I was serving a young family who brought friends from out of town to eat on a Sunday morning. They came in right when we opened. I worked late the night before and I don’t drink coffee.

There was a cute little girl there at the table. She had blonde curly hair with blue eyes. Her little pastel Sunday dress was so cute! I brought them all waters per protocol. My hands were full and I had the straws in my apron pocket. I smiled and handed her the water. The first thing she said in an bossy tone was, “Where’s my straw?”

This was years ago and through trial and error,  I learned how to properly respond in that scenario. At that time in my career however, I was still developing that skill. The server today would have kept her mouth shut, brushed it off, and had given her the straw.

The server then was grumpy and tired. She didn’t tolerate rude folks at all. The poor managers were trying to help but it was a slow going process. I was still taking things quite personally. And boy did I take it personally!

Without batting an eye,  I looked at that kid. I said in my meanest Auntie voice, “I know you aren’t talking to me like that. You must be crazy!” I handed her the straw, got an intense glare from her mom, realized my error, and literally ran from the table!

I waited for things to cool down. The rest of their meal went smoothly, thank God!

Now it was time to settle the bill. There’s always an argument between the guests and the hosts when it comes to this part. Always! The mom snatched that receipt from my hand and smirked. Smirked! It took much self restraint to not repeat the same mistake I had done with her daughter an hour earlier. I looked at her, smiled, and walked away.

Sometimes rudeness is environmentally influenced. You’re hungry. You’re tired. You’re thirsty. Something beyond your control happened.

Other times though. Other times? Rudeness is taught. The little girl saw her mom act a fool.  I suspect this was not the first time the little girl saw her mom act this way. I’m betting it most certainly won’t be the last.