Chapter 9: Second MeetingThe half-tablet compromise seemed to work. Garner got through his shift with minimal problems—though he noticed his colleagues were still on alert to come to his aid if needed.
He was both buoyed and slightly distracted by the idea that he might see Alonzo again after work. When at one point this produced an error in his service, he took himself in hand and resolved to direct every atom of attention to the job at hand, and to focus only on the needs of the diners.
Whether it was due to his practice while on the café patio earlier, Garner found that he was even more sensitive to the unspoken needs and wants of his customers, once or twice even surprising them—and mortifying himself—by responding with something they had not yet asked for. This was met with amusemen
