The woman headed straight for a corner booth in Stephanie’s section, tossed her purse onto the seat, and sank down with a dramatic sigh. Stephanie hesitated. It was her last day, and dealing with a ‘Karen’ wasn’t exactly part of the celebration she’d imagined. But with a practiced smile, she approached the table.
“Hello, welcome. I’m Stephanie, and I’ll be—” “Crayons,” Karen interrupted, not even bothering to look up. “My kids are bored already. Can you get them something to do, or do they have to sit here forever without entertainment?” Her tone was sharp, each word a tiny sting. Stephanie felt her anger flare, but she swallowed it down.