The Whistling Kettle

Gratuity

As the customer stepped away from his stand and made their way out of the resturant, Arthur kept his head down and eyes glued to the money in his hands as he sorted them neatly into the cash register bins. All the bills facing the same way, the 50s there, next to the 20s, the change-

"We pay you, right?"

Arthur didn't look up at the sound of the voice, instead he nodded and dropped the last of the pennies into the bin. Taking the check that had been layed down on his counter, Arthur glanced over the bill once before he began tapping away at the computer.

"Man, everything was great!" The customer said, Arthur's eyes still on the screen, "You don't get burgers like that anywhere else in town!"

If only Arthur had a dollar for everytime he heard that. The burgers in this small, family-owned resturant were talked about for miles and miles, everyone knew about their food.

"I'm glad you enjoyed your meal, sir." Arthur said boredly, before he turned his eyes to look at the man in front of his stand.

Arthur had expected an older man, fat, with a wife or children. Instead, it was a young, slender man all by himself. He had the brightest eyes Arthur had ever seen, and he couldn't help but stare for a moment. Finally, after that satisfied grin became burned into his memory, Arthur took the credit card the other was holding and ran it through. When he handed it back, he watched that charming smile return to the other's lips before he tucked the card back into his wallet.

Arthur pulled the printed slip from the machine and grabbed a pen, sliding it to the other, "If you could sign that for me."

The other did as asked, and as Arthur waited for the restaurant's copy of the receipt, he glanced down at the customer's. Alfred Jones..What an old name for such a young man.

"Here ya go!" Alfred spoke, causing Arthur to quickly turn his eyes upwards as he slid the paper back to him. Silently, he handed over his receipt and took the signed one. After Alfred had stuffed it into his pocket, he gave the host another smile.

"You have a nice night!" His happy voice boomed, before he left the resturant.

Arthur stared after him for a moment, until he realized that other customers were staring at him. Quickly, he went to put the receipt in the cash register, but he paused as something caught his eye.

It had to be some of the worst cursive ever known to man, for you could hardly even make out the 'A' in Alfred. Still, as his eyes drifted down to the gratuity space, he felt his cheeks burn hotter than they ever had before.

After a moment of staring, Arthur felt a small smile tug at his lips, and he grabbed a napkin to write down the poorly-written phone number.