Ages 12 and Below...

I swear that you learn new things everyday! There’s always some fresh experience or an exasperating circumstance that is just WAITING to happen.

Why just last Sunday, my siblings and I went out to Atria, a small mall near our place, to have some dinner at Nandos. My siblings were responsible for picking the place because to begin with, I wasn’t even hungry.

But I’ve always been told to eat regular meals, so I relented. As we stepped in, we could see industrious workers zooming about getting the tables re-set and serving customers. We sat down like we always did, read the menu like we always did, and made our pick.

“I want a half chicken, doused with spicy Nando sauce,” my brother croaked, to which the obliging waitress replied “Okay, okay, boleh…”

“Could I please have the children’s set meal which is a quarter of a chicken please ma’am,” said my brown-nosing sister, and again, the waitress complied, but unimpressed with my sister’s politeness.

“I want, a kid’s meal set, the one that’s RM 9.90,” I asked nonchalantly.

No response.

A bird could’ve laid eggs and nested in that time while I waited for her to comply. Then she confidently said,

“Ini untuk children bawah 12 sahaja.”

I thanked her keen sense of observation – to her credit, it was written on the menu that the meal was recommended for “children 12 and below”.

Thinking she was pulling a joke, I heartily replied, “Haha, I know, but could I have it anyway?” *grins*

“Tak boleh. Bawah 12 sahaja (You can't, only those 12 and below),” was her frank reply.

It then hit me that this woman did not get it.

She TRULY felt that I was LEGALLY disallowed from ordering the food in light of COMPANY POLICY and more obviously, the stern recommendation written on the menu.

I almost died as I asked her, “SO you’re TELLING me that I CAN’T order this because I’m not 12?? As in, I REALLY CAN’T have it though I’m paying??”

“No,” said the relentless ignoramus.

Half laughing from sheer frustration and sincere disbelief, I said, “OKAY. Well…I’m ordering for my…for my sister then. How about that.”

My sister tugged my sleeves and announced, “Eh, Khor Kor, I’m having the children’s meal set with a quarter of a chic..”

“I KNOW I KNOW! Shhhh!!” I said wide-eyed. Turning my attention back to the woman I firmly said, “Look miss, I’m not THAT hungry, so I’m going to order the kid’s mea—“

She interrupted, “If encik not hungry, boleh order adult punya half a chicken atau pun quarter chicken.” (If you're not hungry, you can order the adult Half a half a chicken or a quarter of a chicken)

I could strangle her neck if not for the initial shock. I told her off (knowing I might get extra foamy mineral water) and insisted impatiently that I’m a paying customer who will now have nothing other than a sausage and fries kid’s meal!

With a sad nod (I’ve broken some literal law) she took my order and left.

My brother was just as shocked.

“You know what she needs?” my brother said, “She needs to read it carefully!”

I disagreed. What she needs is an education.

Am I mean to think so? Seriously?