Addiction

She was very critical when going to restaurants. A dish could barely make it to her table. And when she liked it, she surely found a lipstick glass, or a waiter who wasn't fast enough. Music tended to be too loud. Smoke disturbed her, and sometimes she even interfered in the neighbouring table's conversation. 'Please keep your voices down'. The bill was incomprehensible. But she kept coming and the staff had to live with this. She was a loyal customer after all.

Some waiters had found a way to deal with her, smiling and explaining again. Others took the avoidance-track, what was an enterprise in such a small place. The easiest was to put her on the outside table and avoid going out for a smoke.

That evening the steak was too chewy. She had taken one bite and had called the waiter then and there. He hoped it would be too much for her now, he hoped they would have crossed a line. That in the future she would go out to other places.

'You can bring me the piglet instead,' she said, 'because I absolutely love this restaurant'.