Winter - Cover

Winter

Copyright© 2025 by Mike McGifford

Chapter 3

The partial kiss and Mabel’s reaction in its own way further broke the ice. I hadn’t realized I was tense until I no longer was.

Mabel was everything she was online but somehow managed to be even more real in person. One thing about Clapper is that the creators can be themselves so it’s not like meeting a movie or TV actor in real life.

On screen, actors play a character. On Clapper, I could tell Mabel was just herself, not a character like some others are. Mabel’s on-screen personality closely matched her in-person personality. She didn’t need to put any effort into staying in character because she genuinely was that character. Just the right mix of humor and cynicism that makes her fun to watch and listen to.

She treated the server at the café just like she’d treat visitors to her live online. She was naturally friendly and could draw a stranger into conversation as if she’d known them for years.

The server was chatting to her while setting our food down and was rudely interrupted by some entitled older woman who walked into the cafe and straight up to him, demanding his attention.

“I was here yesterday and you put cream cheese in my bagel. I want a replacement,” the woman demanded, her arms folded in front of her like she had every right to interrupt us.

The young server was unsure what to do. I could see he knew he needed to address the older woman’s complaint, but he was trying to provide us with good customer service at the same time. Being interrupted like that had been unexpected and he didn’t know how to deal with it.

“Excuse me, ma’am, I understand you have an issue that will demand attention,” Mabel spoke up. “I’m sure you don’t want your concerns dismissed or ignored completely, right?” She asked, looking concerned rather than angry at the woman’s rudeness.

“Well of course I do!” The woman replied, her tone softening and her anger along with it.

I bet she thought Mabel was taking her side.

“Then you understand that interrupting another customer’s dining experience isn’t a great way of encouraging the staff to treat your complaint with the gravity it deserves. Surely you want to speak to the manager, not the person that served you yesterday?”

The woman began to look uncertain as if she hadn’t considered asking to speak to the manager in the first place.

“Well, yes, maybe...” the woman admitted.

 
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