Joe always knew it could happen to anyone but now it was happening to him! It happened on a special date he had planned with his girlfriend Jazmine more than a week earlier. It was to be just an intimate little dinner at their favorite gourmet burger joint, nothing too special or pricey. Dinner at six and back home in lots of time for the game by eight. He could get “good boyfriend” points for planning the dinner and watch his favorite team in the first round of the playoffs all on the same night . The best part was that he probably wouldn’t even have to negotiate for TV time to watch the game. Jazmine would probably insist he watch the game after he was so thoughtful in taking her out for the dinner.

And then it happened.

Jazmine had sent the waitress away twice already to allow for more time with the menu which was a little stressful for Joe but manageable. . . until he noticed a party of 12 being seated in their section. “Game, Set and Match!” He thought. No watching playoffs in his future.

The waitress arrived again and Jazmine told the waitress she was having trouble deciding between a baked, garlic mashed or smashed potato as a side.  She had already asked the server which item was the most popular and the waitress had suggested the smashed potato but then Jazmine had thought that the server might just be trying to up-sell her so she sent the waitress away again while she discussed this dilemma with Joe. Jazmine also wanted to discuss whether they should have their appies before or with the dinner as well as express her concerns about some of the restaurant’s pricing policies.

Now Jazmine was getting hunger and became suspicious that the serving staff were ignoring her like they did the last time she had eaten there. Sweat was literally running down Joe’s face. He was running out of time.

Desperate times call for desperate measures thought Joe. He quickly excused himself to use the washroom and paid the waitress an extra twenty to come back to their table before taking anyone else’s order and to bring some sweet rolls.

Joe ended up missing the first period but he would still chalk the evening up as a win.