Moonlighting as a Sommelier-Part 2

In addition to the walk around events we also conducted sit-down dinners.  These were the worse, but I could always manage to wrangle the guests out faster than a walk around, which Gertrude liked.  For a seated dinner, you become not only the Sommelier, but a food server.  I never waitressed in my life!  How hard could it be?  I ate in enough fine dining establishments to understand service, but don’t ask me about the different forks and spoons and where they go.

One night, one of my colleagues was working a large party of 8 crammed into the temperature controlled room.  The host handed her a wad of cash and said “take care of me and I’ll take care of you.”  I was supposed to work this room, but Bitch #3 wanted me to have more experience, so she gave me a small party in the kitchen.  My colleague was so stunned, she held up to the wad to both me and Bitch #3 in awe and silence.  Big mistake!  Now she had to split the money with everyone (but me).  Idiot.  The guy handed her another was of cash later in the night that she also had to share.

I palmed everything after that.  Palming money is an art form I quickly learned to perfection.  A handshake, followed by a closed palm that moved up my jacket sleeve until I could get it in my pants.  I usually had no pockets.  Even when Bitch #3 asked me if so-and-so tipped me I would always say no with conviction.  She would usually say something like “I’m surprised.  She’s normally a good tipper.”  She told me not to tell, so not tell is what I did to earn a few extra bills.

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