Smoking on the Patio

My meeting was over. I came out from the room in the back of the restaurant and walked onto the front patio to eat with Trudy and Ben. They had already ordered and were waiting for their food. I was hungry, so I went back in and ordered before I actually sat down.

When I returned, Trudy had a scowl on her face. She mumbled something and tilted her head in the direction of a couple of guys sitting at a table a few feet away.

What? I asked.

They just started smoking.

The two of them were sitting five feet from the door to the restaurant to which was taped a sign that said, No smoking within 15 feet. No smoking under the patio roof. They were under the roof. And to add insult to injury, the were sitting directly in front of a high-velocity fan that was blowing their smoke quite efficiently in our direction.

I looked at them. I looked at Trudy. I looked down and thought for a moment. And then I got up and walked over to their table -- not something I'd usually do, but you see, I was hungry and not in a particularly charitable mood.

Hey guys, I said as I walked up to them. They stopped talking and looked up at me. Would you please stop smoking?

Stop smoking!? one of them said incredulously.

Yeah, you see the sign says ... and I pointed to the sign and I touched the door and I pointed to the roof.

One of them seemed embarrassed and was willing to move. The other (the incredulous one) was not impressed. Although first guy suggested they move to a table off in the other direction, the incredulous one scowled and walked around the corner, grumbling, No, I'm going to sit over HERE.

And so we had a smoke-free dinner.

But here's the kicker. Later, as we were finishing our meal, the incredulous one returned. He walked past us to one table and then another, and Trudy pointed out (in her own air of incredulity) that he was bussing the tables.

I guess it's safe to assume he wasn't the employee who taped the sign to the door. Or is it?

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