The Waitress, the Pastor and the Applebee's Meltdown...a perfect internet storm.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

75. For a short while, I waited tables at a local chain restaurant

For those in Raleigh, I worked at Darryl's, off Six Forks Rd., for a brief time part-time in order to pay for a vacation I wanted to take, while still holding a full time job.

Anyways, when I was training, I was told by all other waitstaff that the worst shift in terms of customers and tips was the Sunday lunch. I asked why. The answer: the after-church crowd.

Our wages then were about $2.75 per hour.

Since I was a newbie and since I could only work nights and weekends, it didn't take long for me to get assigned to a Sunday lunch shift.

I learned pretty quickly that the other waiters were right. Large parties would come in, to which we would add an automatic gratuity like most restaurants do, yet they would request separate checks to avoid the automatic gratuity charge. Then, when all was said and done, the tips were meager at best, considering I had busted my tail to provide refills, prepare desserts, and even special orders for the brats in the party.

Tips are not a requirement - they are for good service. The worst I have ever gotten was a Chick Tract as a tip. Another runner-up was a notecard indicating Jesus had given me the biggest tip because He had died for me. My great reward was to accept Him and go to heaven where I could then collect my Eternal Tip (I'm not joking). I have also gotten a piece of gum and a $1 bill with a note that the patrons would be praying for me.

After a couple of shifts like that, I had gained enough seniority that I was able to get a better shift and leave the Sunday lunch to the newest newbies.