Coffee arrived after twenty.
No tea.
No food.
Other guests who arrived later were served.
Margaret watched.
She took notes.
Not every delay was discriminatory.
Hotels become busy.
Orders get lost.
People make mistakes.
Margaret had spent a career forgiving mistakes.
What mattered was what happened after a guest brought the mistake to someone's attention.
At 8:20, she asked another server.
“Excuse me. I ordered breakfast about an hour ago.”
He glanced toward the kitchen.
“You'll get it.”
“Do you know whether the order went through?”
He sighed.
“I said you'll get it.”
Margaret nodded.
Waited.
At nine, Sam entered carrying luggage for a departing guest, saw Margaret through the restaurant entrance, and paused.
He walked over after finishing his task.
“Morning.”
“Good morning.”
“You sleep okay?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the empty table.
“Have you eaten?”
“Apparently I'm building character.”
Sam frowned.
“When did you order?”
“Quite some time ago.”
He looked embarrassed.
“I'll check.”
Before he could, Chloe entered the restaurant carrying a folder.
She saw Margaret.
Rolled her eyes.
Margaret decided it was time.