Alvin didn’t like the way the waiter walked—he an air of arrogance. The waiter came to table with three glasses in one hand and menus in the other. His thumb and fingers all over the insides of the glasses. Alvin disgusted. Hank and Nathan didn't seem to mind. “ germ that doesn’t kill you, just makes you ,” Hank said. Alvin told Hank to remember that a day or so when he was barfing the toilet.
Alvin refused to drink or eat . He told them he would eat when he home. Ten minutes later, after finally getting the ’s attention, Hank and Nathan each ordered a small , a double cheeseburger with chips, and a couple beers. Alvin asked the waiter if he had there long. “Long enough,” the waiter replied. When returned with the beers, Nathan told the waiter . The waiter said nothing in reply.
“Did you that?” Alvin asked. “You said thanks, and he ’t bother to say you’re welcome.” Hank said that people today were not taught the finer points etiquette.
“The finer points?!” Alvin said. “The finer are knowing which side of the plate the and spoons are supposed to be on. Knowing to say ‘sir,’ ‘thank you,’ and ‘you’re welcome’ elementary etiquette.” The waiter came back to clear plates from the table. Nathan hadn’t quite finished, said nothing. When the waiter brought the bill ten minutes later, Alvin motioned to him.
“Give the bill,” he said. “I’m going to treat friends.” Wordlessly, the waiter placed the bill in of Alvin.
Nathan and Hank were astounded. “You ,” said Nathan, “this might be the first time ’ve ever seen you pick up the tab. What’s occasion?” Alvin told Nathan that he just felt being nice to his friends for a change. bill was $20. After his friends had left table, Alvin put a 35-cent tip on the .