Elbows on the table

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by jinx

I worked at an overpriced restaurant/bar popular with the local yuppies throughout my teens. Rude patrons were severely punished for their transgressions, although they were no the wiser....

So, did they old ladies get a booger in their tea or what?

Nah. I had then (and still have) a very certain death-ray quality about myself that I could turn on at will. I was brought up with manners (all evidence to the contrary!) and I could stare a paragraph of frozen hate in my eyes and body lingo. Those biddies got the message. THEY thought they were being "girlish" and "cute" but when I was done with them they had left a hefty tip and were very abashed. HA! I never spoke a rude word to them but I let them know that I was better than they which is a thing I can still do to my own detriment, usually. Eh, few 19 year-olds were as self-righteous as I. Sigh.