[Standing in line waiting for a table at the restaurant. We are behind a party of four that walked in ahead of us: Mom, dad, and two rambunctious teenage boys. The phone at the hostess station rings.]
Hostess (picks up the phone): Thank you for calling the Golden Goose. May I place you on a brief hold? Thank you. (directed to the party of four) How many in your party?
Dad: Four of us.
Hostess: Right this way.
BW: You know, they should give people a choice.
Ann: What do you mean?
BW: Well, she picked up the phone and said, "May I place you on a brief hold." She should offer the choice of a brief or extended hold.
Ann: Who is going to pick the extended hold?
BW: Maybe it just so happens at that moment, that's exactly what that person needs. At least it would be provided as an option.
[Hostess returns]
Hostess: Hello. How many in your party?
BW: Two. Can we get seating outside?
Hostess: Absolutely! Please follow me.
[Hostess leads to a table in the shade outside. The couple sit down.]
BW: Something tells me that was more than a brief hold. See, she should have given a choice.
[Waitress arrives}
Waitress: Good afternoon. May I start you with something to drink?
Ann: I'll have an Arnold Palmer.
BW: I'll take a Moscow Mule.
Waitress: Very good. Would you like more time to look at the menu?
BW: I think we're ready to order.
Ann: I'll have the strawberry walnut salad with balsamic.
BW: I'll take the classic cheeseburger. Medium well. Fries are fine. Also, I'll take a side salad with ranch.
Waitress: Perfect. We'll get that in for you.
BW: Feels nice and breezy up here. Definitely cooler than Phoenix.
Ann: Yes I like it.
[Drinks and side salad arrive]
Waitress: Would you like some fresh ground pepper on your salad?
BW: No thank you.
Waitress: Enjoy!
BW: See, there is another opportunity for a choice. Would I like fresh or stale ground pepper?
Ann: Who wants stale ground pepper on a salad?
BW: Maybe someone likes pepper but not too much. They might sneeze or choke if it's too strong. Stale ground pepper would be not as strong as fresh.
Ann: That's just silly.
BW: Hey, I'm just about offering people more choices. Let them decide.
Hostess (picks up the phone): Thank you for calling the Golden Goose. May I place you on a brief hold? Thank you. (directed to the party of four) How many in your party?
Dad: Four of us.
Hostess: Right this way.
BW: You know, they should give people a choice.
Ann: What do you mean?
BW: Well, she picked up the phone and said, "May I place you on a brief hold." She should offer the choice of a brief or extended hold.
Ann: Who is going to pick the extended hold?
BW: Maybe it just so happens at that moment, that's exactly what that person needs. At least it would be provided as an option.
[Hostess returns]
Hostess: Hello. How many in your party?
BW: Two. Can we get seating outside?
Hostess: Absolutely! Please follow me.
[Hostess leads to a table in the shade outside. The couple sit down.]
BW: Something tells me that was more than a brief hold. See, she should have given a choice.
[Waitress arrives}
Waitress: Good afternoon. May I start you with something to drink?
Ann: I'll have an Arnold Palmer.
BW: I'll take a Moscow Mule.
Waitress: Very good. Would you like more time to look at the menu?
BW: I think we're ready to order.
Ann: I'll have the strawberry walnut salad with balsamic.
BW: I'll take the classic cheeseburger. Medium well. Fries are fine. Also, I'll take a side salad with ranch.
Waitress: Perfect. We'll get that in for you.
BW: Feels nice and breezy up here. Definitely cooler than Phoenix.
Ann: Yes I like it.
[Drinks and side salad arrive]
Waitress: Would you like some fresh ground pepper on your salad?
BW: No thank you.
Waitress: Enjoy!
BW: See, there is another opportunity for a choice. Would I like fresh or stale ground pepper?
Ann: Who wants stale ground pepper on a salad?
BW: Maybe someone likes pepper but not too much. They might sneeze or choke if it's too strong. Stale ground pepper would be not as strong as fresh.
Ann: That's just silly.
BW: Hey, I'm just about offering people more choices. Let them decide.
Mandatory that service workers reply with exclamation point excitement.
Stale ground pepper -- the kind that comes already ground in the container and has spent over a year in the pantry.
Along with the plastic type of