Harlan Bishop, now a full-fledged Parisian, was having the time of his life exploring the city with his friends Emily Cooper, Mindy Chen, Camille, and Camille's girlfriend, Sofia Sideris. Their adventures had taken them to various iconic spots in Paris, and tonight, Mindy suggested they dine at L'Avenue, a popular and trendy spot.
As they arrived at the restaurant, the group was in high spirits. They were seated and began perusing the menu when Mindy leaned over to Harlan. "You should try the Escargots," she suggested with a grin. "It's a classic French dish, snails cooked in garlic butter. Trust me, it's delicious."
Harlan looked intrigued. "Snails, huh? Why not? When in Paris, right?"
Before they could place their order, a rude waitress approached them, her expression sour. "Are you here for lunch or dinner?" she asked curtly.
"Dinner," Emily replied politely.
The waitress rolled her eyes. "Fine. Move to that tight table over there," she snapped, pointing to a cramped spot in the corner.
Camille, sensing the waitress's hostility, stood up. "Excusez-moi, mais nous avons réservé cette table. Nous ne bougerons pas," she said firmly in French, standing her ground.
The waitress huffed but didn't push further. They finally managed to place their orders, but as Mindy was speaking, the same waitress rudely cut her off. Mindy's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Can you believe her?" she whispered to Harlan.
Harlan, trying to calm her, said, "Maybe she's just having a bad day. Let's not let it ruin our night."
Their food arrived, and despite the rocky start, they began to enjoy their meals. Harlan found the Escargots surprisingly tasty, and the group's spirits lifted as they shared stories and laughed together.
However, as Emily was halfway through her meal, the waitress returned and took her plate away without a word. Emily jumped up. "Hey! I wasn't finished with that!"
The waitress gave her a disdainful look. "Too bad."
By the time they finished and received their bill, their patience was wearing thin. They paid the bill and left the restaurant, only to be chased down the street by the manager and the same rude waitress.
"You didn't leave a tip!" the manager shouted.
Harlan turned, exasperated. "We paid for our meal. Tipping isn't mandatory."
The manager, undeterred, insisted, "We deserve a tip!"
Mindy, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward. "Listen, if you keep chasing us for tips, I'll call your corporate office or whoever's in charge and report this harassment. We paid for our dinner, and that's all that's required."
Harlan nodded in agreement. "In many restaurants, tipping isn't required. It's a courtesy, not a law."
The manager and the waitress grew visibly angrier, but before they could retort, Camille stepped in, her voice icy. "Votre comportement est ridicule. Vous êtes vraiment deux garces." (Your behavior is ridiculous. You are really two bitches.)
The group turned and walked away, leaving the stunned manager and waitress behind. As they strolled down the street, trying to shake off the unpleasant encounter, they couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
"Well, that was an adventure," Emily said, shaking her head.
"To say the least," Harlan agreed, feeling a mix of relief and amusement.
Mindy looked at her friends and grinned. "At least we'll have a good story to tell about our night at L'Avenue."
And so, they continued their evening, their bond strengthened by the shared experience, ready for whatever quirky adventure Paris had in store for them next.