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  For the past 17 years, I’ve had a weapon, and I’ve never been afraid to use her. Meet Weapon X, otherwise knows as the chicklet, my daughter.
I realized the power I wielded when the chicklet was young, about 3 or 4, if memory serves. We had made reservations for Easter Brunch at a nice, pricey place. We were early. The line was long.
It didn’t take long to realize that the line was TOO long. Something was amiss. After waiting 30 minutes past our reservation time, I brazenly shoved past the hostesses blocking everyone from the dining area and made an amazing discovery -- there were a LOT of empty seats in the dining hall. What there were not was empty tables. Seems this fancy, expensive resort, in its wisdom, decided to set up most of its tables as rounds for 10. Shocker alert -- most families of 10 are eating Easter brunch at home. So, what was happening was that groups of 2 and 4 were seated at these tables, meaning there were enough chairs, but the restaurant refused to ‘inconvenience’ its diners by ‘forcing’ them to sit together. Several of us who were past starving said we’d gladly join together and BE a table of 6, 8 or 10, just let us get to the damned food already. The restaurant REFUSED. No, we’d made reservations for 2 or 3 or 4, and by golly, they were not going to ALTER their plans NOW, despite the fact that their plans were working as well as O.J.’s plan to find the real killer.  After Weapon X was released. They refused. I looked at my child, and said, “Chicklet, you have Mamma’s permission to throw a fit.” WELL. Weapon X gaped in shock for a moment, but she was always a bright child, and knew even at a young age that opportunities such as these didn’t happen every day. As she drew in a HUGE breath and just started the beginnings of a howl, the manager THREW herself at me and said, “No! We’ll seat you now!” I told Weapon X to quiet down, she did, and we, and two other grateful families of 3 filed in to get fed. Shortly after, the rest of the herd were allowed in. I’d mentioned on the way to our table that I wasn’t above taking Weapon X out and letting her stand in the lobby until everyone had a chair. The restaurant manager now lived in fear, and I had newfound power. Weapon X. And I wasn't afraid to use it. . . . (Part 2 to follow next week! Stay tuned!!!) |
The Great Corrupter
