4 There goes my French

Chapter 4

Mr Marius spoke on our behalf to Claudette that we did a good job yesterday and to let us take half the day off since we won't be learning anything today. Claudette made it clear we be here by 6pm to get ready. Now I'm at the house lounging. We agreed to speak English in the house because of me. Thank God Frenchies here could speak English.

"Guys it's five thirty. Let's start getting ready" Audrey shouts from upstairs. I really don't like her. She gives me a weird vibe and I have a feeling she doesn't like me too. I got up from the couch and walk upstairs to my room as the rest.

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Now we are at the restaurant and Claudette thought it was a good idea for us to run what to do one more time. After that she handed us our uniforms and asked us to change quickly. The uniform was a white dress shirt, a blue waist coat, bowtie and a black trousers. Nothing special. I got dressed and packed my hair up in a neat ponytail.

We got out and met up with the guys. Evan turned to me and smirked. "What do you think of me my Spanish hottie?" I grimace at the nickname.

"Considering we are all wearing the same thing, not so much. And don't call me 'spanish hottie' ever again." The others laughs and he scoffs.

"Ahem" we turn our attention to Claudette and Mr Marius. "The actual waiters would go first so you all can see how it's done. After that you all will be assigned a table that you would wait. And remember, no slip ups." Claudette tells us sternly.

We all sat down together and waited in anticipation. When the time came for the restaurant to be opened, the place was easily packed. We were called when the real waiters were going to do their jobs. It looked quite easy.

"Okay, so Jayden, you would go the table over there, Eliza, you are for that table, Raphael, you wait the table in the corner. Evan, the table directly opposite Raphael. Lisa you have the table in front. And finally Audrey, you get the table in the center. Madame Claudette made it clear that you go over to that table as that client is off high importance. Are we clear?"

"Yes." We all chorus.

We all stood in line and waited until we were asked to go.

"Lisa," Audrey calls

"Yes?"

"Do you think it's possible for you to wait my own table, I'm really nervous and I think I'd mess it up. Please?" She asks batting her eyelashes at me.

"Um Audrey I don't think I can help you with this. I think Claudette knew it was important whe–"

"Thank you!" She cut me off and walk with the others to their assigned table. Audrey walks to mine. I groan.

"What part of my statement did she get that I'd help her?" I mumble to myself.

I pep talk myself and move to Audrey's table were a man sat with what seems to be business associates.

"Bonsoir. Je suits votre serveur, Lisa. Que désirez-vous?" (Good evening. I am you Waiter, Lisa. What would you like?)

So far so good, I haven't faltered in my French.

"Ah oui. Nous aimerions du vin blanc. Quelled eat la spéciale de ce soir?" (Ah yes. We would like the white wine and for me a .... Could you please tell me what tonight's special is?)

The only part of the statement I got was the white wine. The rest was jibberish. I look at the man utterly confused as he points to a dish on the menu I can't even pronounce.

"What? Well....um...you see..." He looks at me expectantly as I stutter.

What do I do?

Yes I remember Mr Marius say something to us in French about getting someone else to assist.

How did he say again?

"Tu es un imbécile?" (You are a fool?)

I was hoping I got that right but the expression on his face says otherwise. There goes my French.

His eyes are red and so is his face. If this was a cartoon, you'd see the steam from his nose and eyes. I physically cringe at what I had done and what is about to happen.

"TU M'APPELLES UN IMBÉCILE!? QUI PENSEZ-VOUS QUE VOUS ÊTRE!? JE PEUX TE FAIRE EXPLUSER D'ICI!!? JE VEUX VOIR LE GÉRANT, EST-CE AINSI QUE VOUS TRAITEZ LES GENS DANS VOTRE RESTAURANT!?" (You call me a fool!? Who do you think you are? I can have you thrown out of here!!! I want to see the manager!!! Is this how you treat people in this restaurant!!!)

I can assure you the whole restaurant is staring at us as the man shouts at me. I feel so little right now and I'm pretty sure my face is red with embarrassment. Thank God I don't understand French if not I'm sure I'd be in tears.

"What is going on here?" I here Claudette say behind me. The French man dives into the story of how I said what I said. I think I insulted him but I won't know that for sure because of this blasted French. No offense to people who are French speaking.

Claudette manages to soothe him and apologizes for my behavior. She turns to me and drags me by the hand back to the kitchen area/lounge for the staffs. Her nails digging into my skin. From where I am, I can see that French Blondie laughing at my expense.

This is her fault. See I told you she didn't like me. Ugh!!

"Miss Lisa, can you explain to me why you were insulting our client?"

"I....I"

"You know what, just sit here for the reminder of the night. I will sort this out when we are closed." She walks away. I sigh. This trip could not get any worse. I take a seat, my elbows in the table and my fingers in my hair as I take the hair elastic out. This is not how I intended things to go. Eliza and the guys come back for bit and give a sympathetic look and I equally give them a small smile but you see that French Blondie-no French fry, that goes by the name Audrey, comes in and throw a smirk in my direction. Anger courses through me and I ended up snapping my hair elastic. Three words;

I HATE HER.

It's now 11pm and the restaurant is closed. I hear the clicks of Claudette's heels as she approaches me.

Here goes nothing...