Service Charge

Alfred, a portly everyman, enters Café Attend for a spot of early lunch. He is greeted warmly by Lily the waitress whose first action is to tap a basket which reads 'service charge'. Alfred is amazed by this request and leaves any service-quality donation until after his meal. However, this seems to trigger a switch in Lily's treatment towards him, and he is instantly subjected to terrible service. Nevertheless, Alfred continues to hope for a pleasant experience and follows, what he believes to be, the normal restaurant protocol. When his expectations aren’t met he becomes increasingly irate and questions the good fortune of other patrons who receive: Napkins laid onto laps Wine poured for them A delicious ordering of ‘Le Special’ Complimentary bread It is finally made painfully clear to Alfred that the reason he is yet to receive adequate service is that he did not pay his ‘service charge’ upon arrival. The other patrons, who have all paid, glare at him expectantly, and Alfred must decide to embrace this outlandish new trend or be left behind.