A Busy Night
Saturdays are the busiest night of the week, and this Saturday was no different. The restaurant was bustling with customers. Judith knew that she and her co-workers would be stretched with so many people to serve. Judith got busy preparing herself for the night ahead.
She concentrated on writing down the orders correctly, rushing back to the kitchen, and shouting them to the waiting staff. Then it was back to the tables to deliver drinks and take more orders. She could see it was going to be a hectic yet uneventful shift. What could go wrong?
The Family Arrived
Judith noticed the family immediately as they walked in. They were shown to their table and sat down. First the mother, then the father, and finally their two children — a son and a daughter. They looked like a regular family, but a knot formed in her stomach as she watched them.
She was getting a horrible feeling about them, although she couldn’t put her finger on what the problem could be. They were chatting away happily, waiting to be served. She thought she must be imagining things and tried to put the questions starting to fill her head out of her mind.
The Drinks Order
She walked over to the family’s table and took their drinks orders. Smiling at them warmly, she handed them menus to peruse. Judith moved on to some other customers. Taking the family their drinks, she chatted to them and then went to wait near the kitchen.
Judith looked over at them while they decided what they wanted to eat. Something seemed very odd about this family, and she became worried. The mom and dad were pointing to various items on the menu while their son perused the kid’s menu. Everything appeared to be normal.
Uneasy Feelings
Nothing looked out of the ordinary. They were just a regular family enjoying an evening out. Or were they? The children were quiet and well-behaved. Judith wondered if they might be too quiet. Most children were a bit livelier on a Saturday night. Many of them were running around the restaurant and having a fun time.
Still, she had other families and couples to serve, too. She had to force herself to focus on her job and not continually worry about the family she had just served.
The Food Order
The father motioned to Judith that they were ready to order their meal. He ordered first. He chose a sizeable entree. Then the mother ordered something similar. Finally, the son ordered a kid’s meal, and then they stopped ordering. She waited for the daughter to order, but they remained silent.
This was very strange. A family of four and only three meals ordered. In all her waitressing days, she hadn’t come across this before. There had to be a good explanation for their behavior.
A Terrible Mistake?
Judith checked her notepad in case she had made a mistake. Two entrees for the parents and only one kid’s meal. Surely this wasn’t enough to feed a family of four, even if the little girl had a small appetite?
The waitress started to wonder what was up. Why did the girl not order anything? What was wrong with her? Was she just a fussy eater? Could she be ill? Perhaps she suffered from allergies and required a special diet. She may have already eaten at a friend’s house. These situations could all have been true, but they didn’t convince her.
Alarm Bells
Judith kept telling herself that nothing stood out, but the more she tried to explain the situation, the more the alarm bells rang in her head. She couldn’t let it go.
Working in restaurants, she had seen families come and go. She had noticed that some parents denied their children food to punish them. She couldn’t understand this way of disciplining and certainly didn’t approve of it. Was this one of those situations where parents were withholding food from their daughter because she had been naughty?
A Colleague Helps
Not wanting to look suspicious, Judith walked away from the table. She didn’t want to be caught staring at the family, so she decided she should try and watch them from a distance. She asked a co-worker to swap with her for a little while so that she could serve other customers and keep an eye on the family from a little further away.
It was always good, she felt, to try and view situations from a different perspective when you couldn’t find a solution. In this case, maybe she could see what was wrong if she removed herself slightly from the family.
Uneasy Feelings
Nothing looked out of the ordinary. They were just a regular family enjoying an evening out. Or were they? The children were quiet and well-behaved. Judith wondered if they might be too quiet. Most children were a bit livelier on a Saturday night. Many of them were running around the restaurant and having a fun time.
Still, she had other families and couples to serve, too. She had to force herself to focus on her job and not continually worry about the family she had just served.
The Food Order
The father motioned to Judith that they were ready to order their meal. He ordered first. He chose a sizeable entree. Then the mother ordered something similar. Finally, the son ordered a kid’s meal, and then they stopped ordering. She waited for the daughter to order, but they remained silent.
This was very strange. A family of four and only three meals ordered. In all her waitressing days, she hadn’t come across this before. There had to be a good explanation for their behavior.
A Terrible Mistake?
Judith checked her notepad in case she had made a mistake. Two entrees for the parents and only one kid’s meal. Surely this wasn’t enough to feed a family of four, even if the little girl had a small appetite?
The waitress started to wonder what was up. Why did the girl not order anything? What was wrong with her? Was she just a fussy eater? Could she be ill? Perhaps she suffered from allergies and required a special diet. She may have already eaten at a friend’s house. These situations could all have been true, but they didn’t convince her.
Alarm Bells
Judith kept telling herself that nothing stood out, but the more she tried to explain the situation, the more the alarm bells rang in her head. She couldn’t let it go.
Working in restaurants, she had seen families come and go. She had noticed that some parents denied their children food to punish them. She couldn’t understand this way of disciplining and certainly didn’t approve of it. Was this one of those situations where parents were withholding food from their daughter because she had been naughty?
A Colleague Helps
Not wanting to look suspicious, Judith walked away from the table. She didn’t want to be caught staring at the family, so she decided she should try and watch them from a distance. She asked a co-worker to swap with her for a little while so that she could serve other customers and keep an eye on the family from a little further away.
It was always good, she felt, to try and view situations from a different perspective when you couldn’t find a solution. In this case, maybe she could see what was wrong if she removed herself slightly from the family.
Something Wasn’t Right
Aware that she would have to share any tip the family gave her with her colleague, she continued unconcerned. There were more important things to worry about here. The safety and well-being of these kids were her top priority. Everything needed to look natural so that the family wouldn’t notice her.
Judith settled at the waitress’s area behind the bar, where she had a good view of the table. She could see the backs of the parents’ heads and looked straight at the two children. There was definitely something not right with the scene.
A Happy Family
As she watched, the family was deeply engaged in conversation. The parents and their son were laughing and chatting. However, their daughter sat quietly, apparently excluded from the merriments. Judith was confused. This wasn’t normal at all!
She stood there, weighing up her options. Remembering that she had other customers to serve, she realized she couldn’t remain in the back for much longer. She would have to decide what to do and do it fast.
Judith Takes Charge
Judith was about to decide that nothing was wrong, and it was all her imagination when the girl looked like she was going to get up. Did she need the bathroom, or did she simply want to stretch her legs? Whatever the reason, their dad didn’t like it. Grabbing her arm firmly, he prevented her from leaving.
It was instinctive for Judith to want to run over to the table, but she controlled herself so that she wouldn’t give away the fact that she was watching them. Fortunately, their food order was ready, and she charged over to take it to their table herself.
The Plan Proceeds
She balanced the three dishes carefully and made her way to the table. Inside, her heart was pounding, and her stomach was churning. She concentrated on keeping her hands steady and cautiously put the entrees down in front of the parents.
Judith held onto the kid’s meal, looking unsure of whom to give it to. If there was ever going to be a moment for her to ask the question, this was it. She thought about what she would say and do. She knew she had to proceed carefully.
The Final Plan
The family looked bewildered. She pretended not to know which child the meal was for and held it between them. If the girl was hungry, this way, she could take it from her. At least she had an option.
To Judith’s surprise, the father quickly replied that the meal was for his son. The girl’s face was expressionless, although her brother looked pleased that his food had come. As she realized the situation had now become urgent, she thought of one final plan.
Not Looking Good
Judith then asked the parents if the second kid’s meal was missing. She told them she would be happy to return to the kitchen to see why it was taking so long. She saw the family visibly freeze! Every member of the family seemed a bit tenser now. The girl was staring up at her in alarm.
Her eyes grew wide, and she was obviously anxious. This, of course, hadn’t been Judith’s intention. She wasn’t trying to cause the girl further distress; she was merely trying to get to the bottom of the family’s strange behavior. Judith hoped she hadn’t made matters worse.
Now What?
The father interrupted her thoughts to say that the little girl wasn’t hungry. Judith noticed again that the family had become nervous — it was obvious from their body language. She realized she had touched a nerve and wanted to ask more questions.
Unfortunately, they appeared to have shut down, and she knew she wouldn’t get anything more out of them. Besides, she had other tables to serve. As she walked between the tables, smiling and chatting with her customers, she knew this wasn’t over yet.
A Matter of Urgency
As the evening continued, Judith kept glancing over to look over at the family, serving the others as she went. She noticed that the mother, father, and son were all eating and enjoying their meal, but not the girl. The poor child was being totally ignored.
Not one family member had offered her a single bite to eat. Desperate to help the little girl, Judith was overwhelmed with sadness and a sense of urgency. She couldn’t just stand by and let this child go hungry.
A Plan Is Born
While she mulled ideas over in her head, she left them to continue eating their meals. She had to find a way to talk to the girl without the rest of the family seeing her. How would she do that when the father had prevented the child from moving the minute he saw her so much as try to get up?
They certainly wouldn’t leave their children alone for her to talk to them while they were away. How could she separate the parents from the children? A plan was starting to emerge in her mind. It was getting clearer and clearer.
Family Under Observation
Judith knew every section of the restaurant and soon found a place where she could stand where only the girl could see her. She could use this spot to devise a way to communicate with the girl.
It was a large restaurant. Hopefully, nobody would notice her disappearing into the corner. It was still so busy that she should blend in with all the activity. A pillar blocked the boy’s view as she looked at the girl.
Seen!
She checked that the parents couldn’t see her and was satisfied that they couldn’t. The plan was risky, and if she were spotted, it could make things worse for the little girl and herself. But she knew she had to try something.
Judith had to try and make eye contact with the girl. She gave a little wave. At first, it didn’t look like the little girl had noticed her, but then Judith noticed a small reaction. The girl’s brow creased. It wasn’t much, but she believed the girl had seen her.
Help Me
Judith looked around, searching for a piece of paper and a pen. She couldn’t talk to the girl so she would have to write a message. Searching for a piece of paper and a pen, she was relieved to find them easily. She wrote her message and then held up the paper, which read, “Do you need help?”
Waiting anxiously for a reaction, she saw the girl read the message. The nod was barely perceptible, but it was all Judith needed to see. She quickly wrote back, “OK.” Now, how was she going to get the girl alone so she could talk to her?
Help Is Needed
The only place she could talk to her in private would be in the bathroom, and for this, she would need the parents’ permission. She needed a new plan to get the girl there alone. Letting the manager and fellow waitresses in on the plan would now be necessary.
Judith had a good relationship with her fellow waitresses. After all, she had been working there for a while. She knew it would be safe to share the details with them and ask for assistance. While the customers hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary, some of the waitresses said they did. This confirmed her suspicions that something was wrong and motivated her even more. More help was needed!
The Waitresses Join The Cause
Judith and the other waitresses moved to the back. She explained all that she had seen and done. Every one of them wanted to help her in some way. She asked one of her co-workers to go and refill the family’s drinks. The plan was to spill some of the drinks on the father and the little girl, “accidentally,” of course.
It would be a messy affair, but that was exactly what they wanted. Father and daughter would both need to go to the bathrooms separately to clean themselves up. Then she would be able to talk to the girl alone. She needed to let one more person in on the plan.
The Boss Joins In
Judith needed to tell her boss. She trusted him implicitly and wanted to tell him first. She was ready to carry out the plan but didn’t really want to be fired. Therefore, she was incredibly surprised when her boss agreed with her plan and offered to help.
All her colleagues desperately wanted to help the girl. Judith and one other waitress returned to the family’s table. The plan was underway. She felt this was their only chance to find out once and for all what the problem was.
A Messy Plan
Judith stood nearby as her co-worker asked the family if they would like their glasses refilled. They took the glasses away and returned quickly with a tray of new drinks. They started to take each drink and place them on the table.
Judith saw her co-worker’s hand start to tremble. The next moment, there was soda all over the table, dad’s shirt, and the front of the little girl’s clothes. To say that the father looked angry was an understatement!
Dad Is Furious
The dad started to shout as he leaped to his feet and frantically wiped the front of his shirt. The other waitress apologized while Judith and her boss ran over to try and help. The family looked distraught. Throwing a tantrum, the father stomped off to the bathroom, mumbling angrily as he went.
The girl was still sitting there with soda all over her clothes. Judith spoke to the mom reassuringly and suggested she stay with her son while she took her daughter to the bathroom to help her wash the soda from her clothes. At first, the mother seemed reluctant to let her daughter out of her sight, but the girl was begging her, saying how uncomfortable and sticky she was. The girl’s mother relented and gave Judith the permission she needed.
Alone at Last
Meanwhile, the mother looked nervously toward the men’s bathroom to see if her husband was on the way out. As Judith approached the girl to take her to the bathroom, the mother grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her close. She whispered in her ear, “Take her quickly.” Judith, not believing what she was hearing, rushed the child to the bathroom.
Trying not to arouse any suspicion, she walked quickly to the bathroom with the child. She felt the child relax as they got closer to the bathroom. In the bathroom, Judith asked the girl her name. “I’m Anna,” the girl replied softly.
Do You Trust Me?
Anna looked at Judith, not knowing quite what she should do. She felt she could trust the kind waitress but wasn’t a hundred percent sure. Judith tried to reassure her by telling her she was safe and could tell Judith anything.
Judith promised Anna that she could trust her. She understood Anna’s fears, though. The girl had only known her for barely a couple of hours, and now she was asking her to trust her. At last, Anna took a deep breath and started talking.
Interrupted
Suddenly, they could hear loud banging on the door. It was Anna’s dad, demanding that they come out. There was a commotion and more loud banging. He sounded terribly upset. Judith stood up, locked the door, and blocked it with her body.
Anna looked terrified, and Judith knew they wouldn’t be able to stay in the bathroom for long. She kept asking Anna to tell her what was going on and, all the while, kept her calm. But the situation was getting worse, and Judith herself was becoming afraid.
Surrender
Her boss, hearing the banging, emerged from his office. Anna’s dad shouted at him and told him that Judith couldn’t keep his daughter in the bathroom and threatened to call the police. This brought Judith back to reality with a start.While she didn’t want Anna to return to her family, she also knew she had no other option but to open the door and give Anna back to her dad. Taking a deep breath, she gently took Anna by the hand and slowly opened the door.
What Now?
Anna’s dad stood on the other side of the door, his shirt still slightly stained. He looked quite ridiculous with his angry red face and a shirt wet with soda. Judith tried to talk to him, but he refused to listen. He just stared at Anna and told Judith to mind her own business.
She tried to talk to him again, but he simply ignored her. Eventually, he pushed Judith aside, grabbed his daughter, and pulled her back to their table, seemingly unaware of the scene he had caused.
No Going Back
Judith calmed herself down. Now, more than ever, she needed to focus and stay calm. She plucked up her courage and walked out. She had gotten this far; why give up now? In the restaurant, she saw the family sitting tensely at the table.
Seeing Judith walking up to the table, the dad asked if she had come to apologize to him and his daughter. She told him she had come to talk about something different. Hearing this, he laughed at her and told her to consider her next words carefully. Judith was nervous and thought of Anna.
Not as Expected
Judith expressed herself strongly. She spoke of her observations while serving the family and pleaded with the father to be honest about what was happening. She stressed her concern for Anna and that she wasn’t trying to cause trouble. It was a huge risk, but it was too late to stop now.For a long moment, the father was quiet. The other waitresses stood and watched quietly from the sides, intrigued by what was transpiring. The guests sat, silenced by the tension in the room. Then the dad’s expression changed. A smile appeared on his face.
All Is Revealed
It wasn’t an evil grin but a genuine and warm smile. He started clapping. Judith was totally confused, but he told her everything would be fine. The mother started clapping too. Then, all around them, all the other customers stood up and joined in, clapping and cheering.
Some were whistling and chanting Judith’s name. Even her boss came out and joined in. He looked at her proudly and told her he knew she would do the right thing. She still couldn’t figure out what was happening and looked like a picture of bemusement and confusion.
A Camera Crew?
Judith was desperately trying to calm down. What were all these people doing? All she had been trying to do was help a little girl being treated badly by her family, and now the whole situation had turned upside down.
Then, all was revealed. A camera crew emerged, one person at a time, from where they had been hiding all around the restaurant. She couldn’t believe how she hadn’t seen any of them. She had been so focused on this little girl.
Surprise, Surprise
Anna reached up to her and hugged her. Why were people still chanting? Her boss and a waitress came over to explain. They had always been impressed by Judith’s kindness and integrity.
So, a while ago, they had submitted her name to a hidden cameras TV program where they see how people respond when placed in challenging, tricky situations. They knew that Judith would be the most suitable person, and they secretly sent in her name. Everyone else in the restaurant knew and was part of the plan. Judith was completely stunned.
Reward Time
She had to take a seat so that she could process all that they had told her. People were still clapping and cheering. Eventually, Judith rose to her feet and thanked everyone. She couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer and burst into tears.
Judith was a humble, kind woman who only wanted to see people treated with dignity. She didn’t want the attention and was overwhelmed by her colleagues, who thought so much of her that they thought everyone should know about her too.
Not as Expected
Judith expressed herself strongly. She spoke of her observations while serving the family and pleaded with the father to be honest about what was happening. She stressed her concern for Anna and that she wasn’t trying to cause trouble. It was a huge risk, but it was too late to stop now.
For a long moment, the father was quiet. The other waitresses stood and watched quietly from the sides, intrigued by what was transpiring. The guests sat, silenced by the tension in the room. Then the dad’s expression changed. A smile appeared on his face.
All Is Revealed
It wasn’t an evil grin but a genuine and warm smile. He started clapping. Judith was totally confused, but he told her everything would be fine. The mother started clapping too. Then, all around them, all the other customers stood up and joined in, clapping and cheering.
Some were whistling and chanting Judith’s name. Even her boss came out and joined in. He looked at her proudly and told her he knew she would do the right thing. She still couldn’t figure out what was happening and looked like a picture of bemusement and confusion.
Life Goes On
The camera crew and production team thanked her for participating and being such a good sport. After her initial shock at finding out they had tricked her, she wasn’t angry. She was just so relieved that Anna wasn’t in any real danger and was part of a loving, happy family.
Judith and the family have since become good friends. They even invited her over to watch the program with them when it was televised a while later. Watching with them, she remembered that what started as a normal Saturday night at work had become something she would never have imagined in her wildest dreams.
