A Hardworking Waiter
Trevor was a hardworking waiter, constantly juggling tables and giving his best to each customer, yet his tips rarely reflected his effort. Every shift seemed to blur into the next, and today felt like just another of those thankless days.
Then, two young women walked in and took a seat in his section. As he prepared to serve them, he couldn’t have imagined how their visit would change the course of his day.
Something Off
Trevor sensed an unease beneath the kindness of the two girls. Though they were polite, he noticed a tension in their expressions and posture that hinted at something unspoken.
Deciding not to pry, he resolved to focus on offering his best service, hoping it might brighten their mood. Perhaps his efforts could lift whatever burden they were quietly carrying.
Poured His Energy Into Serving
Trevor poured his energy into serving the two young women, hoping he could coax a smile out of them. Compared to the usual rude customers, their presence felt like a welcome change, and he was determined to make their experience enjoyable.
He wanted their visit to stand out, something they’d remember long after. But as he would soon discover, things were not as they seemed. By the time he learned the truth, it was already too late.
Finishing Their Meals
The two girls finished their meal and signaled to Trevor, asking him to bring the bill. He quickly obliged, handing it over with a courteous smile before stepping back to give them privacy.
As he moved away, Trevor noticed them counting their money to cover the check. He could only hope for a decent tip, something that had become a bit of a rarity recently.
Wrapping Up Their Calculations
After wrapping up their calculations, the girls slipped their cash into the bill’s leather cover, stood up, and made their way to the exit. They chatted as they strolled toward the door, their laughter echoing softly in the cozy atmosphere.
Trevor didn’t rush back to the table, hoping to appear relaxed. He took his time gathering their empty glasses and plates, subtly watching them as they reached the door.
Glancing At The Bill
He finally glanced at the bill, picking it up with a sense of dread. Slowly, he opened the cover, almost bracing himself. What would he find? Was there some unexpected surprise lurking within?
As his eyes settled on the final amount, frustration surged through him. This was the last straw nothing ever seemed to change. But in his frustration, he overlooked something important.
Something Unusual
Trevor was on the verge of losing his temper when he noticed something unusual. As the group of girls left, one turned back, casting a concerned look his way. Her gaze lingered, almost as if she were trying to tell him something without words.
That look made Trevor pause, and he felt a flicker of doubt. Maybe this was about more than just a bad tip. He looked down at the bill again, studying it closely, trying to piece together what he might have missed.
An Odd Number
Trevor watched the pair continue through the door and leave out of sight. Now, it was just him and the tip at the table. Would he be able to crack the code that was in front of him? Or would he fail to see the bigger picture?
He stared down at the bill, confused as ever. He looked at the $3.33 tip that they had left him. It was oddly specific. But why?
Cracking The Code
Trevor spent some time examining what they had eaten and what the total was. But nothing helped. Then he started looking around at the restaurant. That’s when he noticed a correlation with the numbers.
As he looked towards the tables around the restaurant, it all started to click in his head. But when he realized what was going on, he started to panic. What had happened here?
Trevor Taylor
Trevor Taylor lived a modest life in New Jersey with his parents. He hadn’t quite made enough money to move out, but it was one of his aspirations. He worked hard at a local wine bar to try and save enough money to pay for his tuition and move out.
But Trevor soon discovered that it was harder to make it than he thought. But the biggest reason was just that most people didn’t tip like they used to.
Starting Out
When Trevor first started out at the restaurant. On a typical Saturday night, he would earn an enormous amount of money. He saved it all away and felt like he would be able to move out in no time.
But after a few months, the gratuity started to dry up. People started to tip less and less. He was now making nearly half what he made over the weekends.
Frustrations
Trevor was beyond frustrated. He felt like his bright future was pulled away from him in a cruel twist of fate. But he wouldn’t give up. He continued to work hard, hoping that things would pick up.
After all, seasonal fluctuations were something he hadn’t considered. During the holiday season, he would get tipped much more.
Hanging In There
He hung in there for weeks. But trying to give the best service possible would soon burn him out and turn him cynical. He knew that most people hated tipping, but they didn’t understand that he needed it to survive.
And he couldn’t spread awareness either. Imagine a waiter asking for a big tip - he’d probably get fired on the spot.
Staying Hopeful
Trevor was near the end of his rope. He put away the little bit of money that he earned, but moving out and going to college seemed years away. At this rate, it would take him an eternity.
Was he willing to wait so long? Or should he find another job? For now, he stayed at the wine bar, staying hopeful. That’s when he saw them.
A Day Like Any Other
It was a Saturday like any other. Some of Trevor’s friends asked him if he wanted to go out with him. He had to sourly decline. They knew he had to work, but they taunted him anyway.
He woke up at 9:00 AM to get to work and started his shift there. It was an ordinary day with tables everywhere. But he had no idea that two people were going to change his day.
Not Enough Tables
Even though the wine bar was busy, the competitive waiters and waitresses took on as many tables as they could. This meant that Trevor probably wouldn’t have many tables for himself. He sighed. Why was it so hard?
As a compromise, they told him that the next table could be his. Now, he just had to wait for the next patrons to come in.
He Was There For A Reason
Trevor was already having a bad day. A big part of him wished that he had agreed to accompany his friends to a night out. He felt useless standing there, serving people who didn’t respect him enough to pay for his services.
But he was there for a reason. He had no idea that in just a few hours, he would save someone’s life
A Sour Mood
He was in a sour mood as he leaned against the bar counter, waiting on a table. In the last hour, he had only served one table, and he was becoming fed up. He just hoped that his next table would be somewhat generous.
When he first spotted the two girls by the entrance, he was just grateful to finally have another table. How could he have known that everything was about to change?
Patient
The two girls stood by the entrance, but they weren’t coming in just yet. Trevor watched with a frown as their eyes scanned over the restaurant. They seemed to observe every single table from afar.
Trevor noticed when one girl’s gaze fell on a certain table, her eyes narrowing in on a man’s face. Was something going on?
Not Coming In
Trevor waited patiently, but the girls weren’t coming in just yet. They seemed hesitant as they continuously glanced at the other tables. One girl was whispering to the other, her eyes filled with concern.
Trevor tried to follow their gazes, but he wasn’t sure who it was that they were staring at. They seemed almost frightened. Were they in trouble?
Not His Place
He wanted to walk up to them and ask what was going on, but before he could, his only table requested the bill. He sighed as he went to print out their pricy bill. They had spent a lot of money, and he wondered if they would reward him for his hard work.
But as he went to get the bill, he wondered if the girls would still be there when he got back.
A New Table
Trevor’s last table of customers paid their bill and left. But the tip was just 4%. They had been a table of six people and could have been a bit more generous. But his focus was still on something else.
Although he was fed up, he wondered if the girls were still at the entrance. He didn’t know it at the time, but his next table would be something he would never forget. The two girls were about to enter the wine bar.
Odd Behavior
Trevor watched as the two girls walked into the bar. Their eyes were still darting around the room, focusing on one table in particular. One girl raised a hand to her face, blocking it from someone’s view.
Trevor thought it was weird, but all he was hoping for was a good table. He couldn’t afford to go home with the few tips he had made that night. Life had been tough.
Blood Running Cold
Trevor’s blood ran cold the moment he looked up from the table. He didn’t believe it at first. It happened when he first started shining the table. He really put some elbow grease until it was shining.
But that was the problem. He stared down at the wood and saw a distorted reflection of himself and, more disturbingly, something else behind him.
A Reflection
He only saw it for a moment, but when he did, he glanced up immediately. He felt his heart start to race. He couldn’t let the girls sit here. He needed to try and get them away.
The girls looked on edge as it was. This might completely scare them off. He had to do something, or they would be in danger and never return. As their waiter, he would fix this.
Changing Tables
“Hello, girls. This table isn’t ready yet. Let me take you to another one,” Trevor nervously said as they approached him. He just hoped they hadn’t noticed what he had.
The girls, who already looked a bit jumpy, didn’t seem to like his idea. He looked at them with a pleading gaze. He just hoped they would accept his proposition.
Heart Set On It
One of the girls piped up and said, “We really had our hearts set on this table.” Trevor didn’t know how to respond to what they said. He needed them to go before it was too late.
“If you like, you can wait for it to be available. I just need to prepare it for you guys,” He said in a desperate gamble. He needed to buy time.
Reluctant
The girls seemed as reluctant as before to give up the table. They looked at each other with concern. It was as if they were talking telepathically. After a moment, they both nodded in unison.
Who were these odd girls? They looked back at Trevor and the girl who had been silent up until this point said, “Fine. We can wait. It shouldn’t take long, right?” Trevor was relieved.
Bigger Problems
He assured the girls that it wouldn’t be longer than five minutes, and they walked to the main bar. As soon as their backs were turned, he raced off to the back room to get what he needed.
He knew he had to be quick before anyone noticed that he was gone. Thankfully, he was the only person who had seen the terrible thing at the table. He prepared himself as best he could and headed back out.
Looking For Something
As he approached the table, he glanced down at the floor. He was looking for something important. He stuck his head underneath the table for a second and looked around.
A moment before he gave up, he saw it there. He quickly picked it up and put it in his pocket before anyone noticed. It was a piece of the greater puzzle.
A Waiter’s Nightmare
What he had seen was a Waiter’s nightmare. He couldn’t believe he had gotten unlucky enough with the table. He left the back room with a mop and a screwdriver in his hand. He had to be subtle if he wanted to sort this out.
It was a waiter’s worst nightmare. He glanced around. No one was paying attention to him, so he hopped up onto the table just for a moment.
Fixing It
He glanced up at the ceiling and squinted his eyes. He could barely make it out, but it was there. He had to fix it now before it killed someone. He took the broom and propped a light fixture up with it.
He was bracing it to make sure that it didn’t fall on him while he did his important work. Thankfully, no one had noticed what he was doing yet.
Handy Tool
He pulled out his handy tool and the item he had picked up off of the floor. Most people would have assumed that it was a bit of debris - but it was very important to everyone’s safety.
He found what he had seen – a void where once a screw sat. Thank goodness the missing screw was now in the palm of his hand. He slotted it in place and used the screwdriver to screw it back in.
A Big Deal
After he had screwed it back into the light fixture, he took the broom and hopped back off the table. He quickly polished the shoe prints off and took the broom back. Most people probably wouldn’t have made such a big deal about a loose screw, but it was important to him.
He knew that over time, the fixture could loosen and fall right onto whoever was dining at the table. In his mind, he had potentially saved a life and his boss against a major lawsuit.
Thinking About This
The extra effort Trevor had put into would all be underappreciated as he heard his manager shouting his name. “What are you doing, Trevor? You’re supposed to wait on people, not the other way around. Get moving!”
Trevor felt blood rise to his face as he became embarrassed. It made him think about how things had been for him lately.
Struggling
Trevor was struggling to make ends meet. He was so sick and tired of being undertipped no matter how much effort he put into his service. It seemed like it was going to be one of those days.
He motioned to the girls and they hopped off the bar stools and headed for their tables. “Thanks for the wait!” He said with a smile. But he had no idea that he had only put out one fire.
Sitting Down
The two girls smiled back. He just hoped they wouldn’t be too stingy. They sat down, and it looked like he was going to be the one to serve them. But he had no idea how it was going to end.
He was glad they waited for him. He hoped that all the extra effort would equate in a better tip. But they had no idea what he even did.
No Idea
The girls were unaware of why they had to wait. To them, he had unnecessarily held them up. That meant that their tip might even be a little lower. But they seemed playful and lighthearted.
Even so, he had to do things properly according to the restaurant policy. He handed them each a menu, puffed up his chest, and opened his mouth.
Introducing Himself
“Hi, my name is Trevor, and I will be your waiter for the evening,” he said politely, noticing the way the girls were still glancing around. Did they feel unsafe in the restaurant? Was he supposed to be on guard?
He wanted to ask them about it, but he knew it wasn’t his place. He didn’t want to pry.
Change Of Pace
The girls seemed kind enough, which was a nice change of pace. He had gotten so used to rude customers tipping him with pennies. Would this be different?
The girls started with a drink each, and he quickly left to get them, unaware of what was happening at their table while he was gone.
Glancing
As time passed, Trevor would find himself glancing at their table now and again. They were whispering into each other’s ears, but their eyes remained wide and on the tables around them.
Trevor was intrigued. He had always been a curious guy, and he could only imagine what they were whispering about. If only he had known what the situation truly was.
More Agitated
The night progressed smoothly, at least for Trevor, but as time went on, the girls only seemed to become more agitated in their seats. It was like they were waiting for something to happen.
At times, their behavior even made Trevor feel unsafe. He didn’t know who they were watching or why they were being so secretive about their presence.
Hurry
Trevor tried not to think about it too much. All he had to do was serve them and make money. Eventually, they ordered their mains.
“Could you please hurry with those? We need to be out of here pretty soon,” one of the girls said, her eyes holding a level of urgency.
More At Play
The two girls had been kind enough, but he couldn’t help but feel like something was off. He could see something behind their eyes or in their body language that gave it away.
There was more at play than what was visible to them all, but Trevor knew he couldn’t pry. He instead decided to try to give them the best service possible. Maybe that would cheer them up?
Wanting To Go Home
The hours seemed to pass slowly. The girl’s strange behavior made Trevor want to go home even more. Their behavior made him think that something bad could happen at any moment.
Who was in that restaurant with them, and why were they trying to hide from them? He wondered if he was supposed to hide, too.
What’s Up?
One girl who worked alongside him, Jennifer, noticed the distressed look on his face as he leaned against the wall, watching the girls with worried eyes.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked with a smile. Trevor had always liked Jennifer; she was nice. But Trevor wondered if he was supposed to tell her the truth.
The Truth
Would she think he was strange for staring at the girls for the entire night? He was only staring because of their strange behavior. He wondered if she would know what was going on.
He decided to tell her. “Those two girls have been acting weird all night. I feel like something is up, but I don’t want to alarm anyone,” he said.
Concern
Jennifer had a concerned look on his face. “What have they been doing?” she asked, her eyes now focused on them and their strange behavior.
Trevor told her all about their weird glances and whispers, and he was relieved to see that she was also freaked out by it. “I thought I was the only one that would find that sort of thing alarming,” he laughed.
Keeping An Eye On Them
“Hmm,” Jennifer narrowed her eyes on the girls. “I’ll keep an eye on them too. Let me know if anything else happens. I’ll be around. But for now, just do your best not to act too suspicious,” she said and walked off.
She was right. He just had to go about his job like nothing was happening. That’s exactly what he did.
A Lot Of Effort
Trevor put all of his efforts into serving the two young women. He wanted to see if he could get them to at least smile. He was so sick of rude customers that they were a breath of fresh air.
He intended to make their stay there memorable, but he had no idea what was actually going on behind the scenes. He’d found out too late.
Getting The Bill
The two girls spent a modest amount at the place and asked Trevor if he could bring them the bill. He quickly obliged them and handed it to them before giving them their privacy.
He noticed them start scrounging together their cash to pay for their meal as he walked away. He just hoped he’d get an acceptable tip. It was something that seemed rare these days.
Done
After a few minutes, the girls were finally done with their calculations and stuffed their cash into the bill’s leather cover before getting up and heading for the door.
Trevor didn’t want to seem too eager and slowly meandered back to the table. He cleared their glasses and plates away from the table as he watched them get to the front door.
Missing Something
Finally, he could take a glance at the bill. He picked it up and slowly opened the cover. The anticipation was killing him. Would he find an unexpected surprise waiting inside?
But as he opened the bill and saw their final amount, waves of frustration washed over him. This was the last straw. He was tired of nothing ever changing. But he was missing something.
Reasoning
Trevor tried reasoning with himself. He tried rationalizing what was going on. Maybe it was the fact that he had made them wait. They had no idea that he had potentially saved their lives.
But that couldn’t be the case. They seemed only kind to him the entire evening. Something else was going on, and he had to figure it out.
Noticing Something
Trevor was about to lose it when he noticed something. One of the girls turned around as they headed out the door and glanced back at him. It was a stare of concern as if she was trying to communicate something.
That’s when Trevor realized that there might be more going on than just a poor tip. He stared back at the bill, trying to understand what was going on.
Why?
Trevor watched the pair continue through the door and leave out of sight. Now, it was just him and the tip at the table. Would he be able to crack the code that was in front of him? Or would he fail to see the bigger picture?
He stared down at the bill, confused as ever. He looked at the $33.30 tip that they had left him. It was oddly specific. But why?
Clicking
Trevor spent some time examining what they had eaten and what the total was. But nothing helped. Then he started looking around at the restaurant. That’s when he noticed a correlation with the numbers.
As he looked towards the tables around the restaurant, it all started to click in his head. But when he realized what was going on, he started to panic. What had happened here?
Table Number
It caught Trevor’s eye. Every table had a number on it. That’s when he noticed table number 33. Three men were sitting at it. Was that part of the code?
He decided to investigate the men further. Along with one sentence that the girls left on the bill, he would understand what was going on.
One Phrase
There was one phrase on the bill. They had written, “This number is important. Once you figure it out, you’ll understand everything.” At first, Trevor didn’t understand, but as he approached the table, everything became clear.
He cleared his throat and greeted the men at the table. They looked to be in their forties, but there was something familiar about them.
All Made Sense
Trevor mustered up his courage and said, “I got a note from the two young ladies that sat there. They seemed to want to point me to you guys.” One of the men cleared his throat to speak. “Those girls are always getting into mischief just like their mothers used to. Aye, they’re my daughters. I’m guessing they didn’t tip enough and wanted me to. Here,” the man said before handing Trevor a $30 tip. It was incredible.
He thanked the man and walked away. People could be kind. The men ended up being regulars along with their daughters. They ate separately, and every time, he’d get the same directions for his tip.