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After Dinner
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2024 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: cash
The badger sat back, wiped his mouth fastidiously, and deposited the napkin beside the plate. The meal had been very good, and as he basked in his replete state the waiter came up to him.
The ferret placed a slip of paper on the table. “Your check, Sir,” he said courteously.
The badger beamed at him. The waiter had been attentive but not intrusive and deserved a good tip for his service. “Thank you,” the badger said, glancing at the paper.
$35.42. Perfect.
“I’ll be back for your payment, Sir,” and the ferret began to turn away, only to stop as the badger cleared his throat. “Sir?”
“No need to come back,” the badger said, holding up the receipt. “Keep the change.” There was a fifty-dollar bill paired with the receipt.
The ferret blinked. “Um, I’m sorry Sir.”
“’Sorry?’”
“We don’t accept cash, Sir.”
The badger stared up at the ferret as if the fellow mustelid had suddenly grown two heads. “This. Place. Doesn’t. Accept. Cash?” he asked, speaking slowly and enunciating each word.
“Yes, Sir. Credit or debit cards only.”
The badger looked at the ferret as if he’d suddenly grown two heads, one of which was declaiming poetry in voluble Korean. He held the bill out separate from the receipt. “Can you read?”
“Sir?”
“I asked, ‘Can you read?’”
“Of course, Sir.”
“Can you read English?”
The ferret’s smile became somewhat fixed. “Yes, Sir.”
The badger glanced at the bill before pointing. “Read that aloud, please.”
The ferret read aloud, “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.”
“That’s exactly correct,” the badger said. “Legal tender. Coin of the realm, wampum, mazuma, lettuce, money. It is backed by the government. It is not a series of ones and zeros dancing to some algorithm that neither of us know or can understand.” There was a pause.
“I’ll get the manager, Sir,” the ferret said.
“You do that,” the badger said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The manager was a gaunt oryx. “What seems to be the problem, Sir?” The ferret stood slightly behind the manager.
“This young man refused to accept currency in exchange for my meal.”
The oryx smiled. “It’s our policy, Sir. The no-cash policy is more efficient.”
“Efficient.” The badger said the word as if it had been coated with lemon pepper.
It did not pair well with the dessert.
“Yes, Sir.”
“I see. Power.”
“I beg your pardon, Sir?”
“I said ‘Power.’ What do you do if the lights go out? Your card and chip readers won’t work, will they?”
“No, Sir, but – “
“And I didn’t bring my cards with me tonight.” The badger waved the fifty-dollar bill back and forth as if he were a conjuror trying to hypnotize the oryx and the ferret. “Now, if you wish to employ the tired old trope of having me wash dishes to work off my debt, I am fully prepared to do just that. However, I would not take it kindly, this young man would not get the substantial tip I had planned on giving him, and I can promise you a positively scathing review of this otherwise excellent establishment.”
There was a pause.
“It’s our policy, Sir,” the oryx said.
“I saw no sign at the entrance,” the badger said.
The oryx blinked. “Excuse me,” and he walked off at a fair clip.
“I’m very sorry about this, Sir,” the ferret said.
The badger waved this away. “No apology required, young sir. You’re doing your job, and quite well, I may say.”
The manager returned. “We’ll accept your payment, Sir,” he said in a leaden voice before turning and walking away.
The badger beamed. “Excellent. Here you are,” and he gave the ferret the bill and the receipt. “Keep the change; you’ve earned it.”
“Thank you, Sir,” and the ferret walked away.
The badger chuckled as he got ponderously to his feet, and he began to sing a sprightly tune as he walked to the door.
end
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2024 by Walter Reimer
Prompt: cash
The badger sat back, wiped his mouth fastidiously, and deposited the napkin beside the plate. The meal had been very good, and as he basked in his replete state the waiter came up to him.
The ferret placed a slip of paper on the table. “Your check, Sir,” he said courteously.
The badger beamed at him. The waiter had been attentive but not intrusive and deserved a good tip for his service. “Thank you,” the badger said, glancing at the paper.
$35.42. Perfect.
“I’ll be back for your payment, Sir,” and the ferret began to turn away, only to stop as the badger cleared his throat. “Sir?”
“No need to come back,” the badger said, holding up the receipt. “Keep the change.” There was a fifty-dollar bill paired with the receipt.
The ferret blinked. “Um, I’m sorry Sir.”
“’Sorry?’”
“We don’t accept cash, Sir.”
The badger stared up at the ferret as if the fellow mustelid had suddenly grown two heads. “This. Place. Doesn’t. Accept. Cash?” he asked, speaking slowly and enunciating each word.
“Yes, Sir. Credit or debit cards only.”
The badger looked at the ferret as if he’d suddenly grown two heads, one of which was declaiming poetry in voluble Korean. He held the bill out separate from the receipt. “Can you read?”
“Sir?”
“I asked, ‘Can you read?’”
“Of course, Sir.”
“Can you read English?”
The ferret’s smile became somewhat fixed. “Yes, Sir.”
The badger glanced at the bill before pointing. “Read that aloud, please.”
The ferret read aloud, “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.”
“That’s exactly correct,” the badger said. “Legal tender. Coin of the realm, wampum, mazuma, lettuce, money. It is backed by the government. It is not a series of ones and zeros dancing to some algorithm that neither of us know or can understand.” There was a pause.
“I’ll get the manager, Sir,” the ferret said.
“You do that,” the badger said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The manager was a gaunt oryx. “What seems to be the problem, Sir?” The ferret stood slightly behind the manager.
“This young man refused to accept currency in exchange for my meal.”
The oryx smiled. “It’s our policy, Sir. The no-cash policy is more efficient.”
“Efficient.” The badger said the word as if it had been coated with lemon pepper.
It did not pair well with the dessert.
“Yes, Sir.”
“I see. Power.”
“I beg your pardon, Sir?”
“I said ‘Power.’ What do you do if the lights go out? Your card and chip readers won’t work, will they?”
“No, Sir, but – “
“And I didn’t bring my cards with me tonight.” The badger waved the fifty-dollar bill back and forth as if he were a conjuror trying to hypnotize the oryx and the ferret. “Now, if you wish to employ the tired old trope of having me wash dishes to work off my debt, I am fully prepared to do just that. However, I would not take it kindly, this young man would not get the substantial tip I had planned on giving him, and I can promise you a positively scathing review of this otherwise excellent establishment.”
There was a pause.
“It’s our policy, Sir,” the oryx said.
“I saw no sign at the entrance,” the badger said.
The oryx blinked. “Excuse me,” and he walked off at a fair clip.
“I’m very sorry about this, Sir,” the ferret said.
The badger waved this away. “No apology required, young sir. You’re doing your job, and quite well, I may say.”
The manager returned. “We’ll accept your payment, Sir,” he said in a leaden voice before turning and walking away.
The badger beamed. “Excellent. Here you are,” and he gave the ferret the bill and the receipt. “Keep the change; you’ve earned it.”
“Thank you, Sir,” and the ferret walked away.
The badger chuckled as he got ponderously to his feet, and he began to sing a sprightly tune as he walked to the door.
end
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Badger
Gender Male
Size 120 x 92px
Listed in Folders
You can keep your Marxist ways
For it's only just a phase!
For it's only just a phase!
Sometimes our self-inflicted dependence on technology is maddening. The story reminds me of an incident quite some time ago, when I pulled into the drive-through of a restaurant I shall not name:
“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t take your order. Our computers are down.”
“I have cash. You have food.“
“I’m sorry, sir. Our computers are down.”
“And you have no way of entering the transaction later?“
“I’m sorry, sir.“
“So am I.”
“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t take your order. Our computers are down.”
“I have cash. You have food.“
“I’m sorry, sir. Our computers are down.”
“And you have no way of entering the transaction later?“
“I’m sorry, sir.“
“So am I.”
I know, right? It's irritating.
At MFM in 2012, a bunch of us were at the local Japanese restaurant, having a post-con dinner when the lights went out. A tornado had passed nearby. Most of us had cards, not cash.
The manager produced one of the old-style card devices, and we were pleased and relieved that we could pay. Such a device would be utterly useless now, as most new cards don't have embossed numbers.
At MFM in 2012, a bunch of us were at the local Japanese restaurant, having a post-con dinner when the lights went out. A tornado had passed nearby. Most of us had cards, not cash.
The manager produced one of the old-style card devices, and we were pleased and relieved that we could pay. Such a device would be utterly useless now, as most new cards don't have embossed numbers.
I remember those old card machines well from my days working in a Ft. Lauderdale shoe store. We had a book, updated monthly, of card numbers which we were not to accept. We had to try to find every card handed to us in that book.
That part of South Florida was prone to frequent power outages. If our electronic cash register didn’t work for that reason, we entered the transaction on a paper ledger and opened the drawer with a key to make change. Unlike the restaurant I mentioned, the shoe store had a contingency plan.
That part of South Florida was prone to frequent power outages. If our electronic cash register didn’t work for that reason, we entered the transaction on a paper ledger and opened the drawer with a key to make change. Unlike the restaurant I mentioned, the shoe store had a contingency plan.
When I left the Orlando Airport, I got caught in a traffic jam because the credit card machines at the exit weren't able to keep up with the number of vehicles. Workers were scrambling around with the old NCR two-part credit card tickets, hand-writing down the numbers and charges for parking.
I'm watching my account like a hawk for any sign of funny business.
I'm watching my account like a hawk for any sign of funny business.
Back in the 70s at my grandparent's store, we had the book AND ran cards over the phone (no touch tone)...
already????? good one too...
by the by - hand in paw with this, I was at Polo Tropical a few months back, and their computers were down, so I paid cash... I was also shocked when the young girl behind the register had no idea how to count back my change from a five dollar bill...
and today I saw the latest AI news on the TV - architecture... we're doomed... humanity's brains are going to stop functioning!
Vix
by the by - hand in paw with this, I was at Polo Tropical a few months back, and their computers were down, so I paid cash... I was also shocked when the young girl behind the register had no idea how to count back my change from a five dollar bill...
and today I saw the latest AI news on the TV - architecture... we're doomed... humanity's brains are going to stop functioning!
Vix
As long as I know how to count to ten, I am superior to the machine.
Anyway.
I read the prompt, the Monty Python song instantly surfaced, and I ran with it.
Anyway.
I read the prompt, the Monty Python song instantly surfaced, and I ran with it.
In my line of business, hard cash payment is both a dream and nightmare.
Once upon a time, a coworker, a fellow salesman, accepted $200.000 payment for a bus deal in $10 notes. (Largest note in our currency)
But money is money, just swallow your pride and ask finance to deal with them
Once upon a time, a coworker, a fellow salesman, accepted $200.000 payment for a bus deal in $10 notes. (Largest note in our currency)
But money is money, just swallow your pride and ask finance to deal with them
We'd have to handle cash bonds, and one night someone came up to bond out their loved one. The bond was $5500.
They paid $4400 in cash . . . and $1100 in loose change.
I counted it all, it took nine envelopes to get it all into the safe, and I got a polite note from the Court Clerk's Office (who processed the transaction) to never do it again.
They paid $4400 in cash . . . and $1100 in loose change.
I counted it all, it took nine envelopes to get it all into the safe, and I got a polite note from the Court Clerk's Office (who processed the transaction) to never do it again.
Businesses like not having to worry about it being stolen by employees or others, governments love being able to track everything you buy/sell/service ...
Lol, I would leave a bad review anyway after this. How could someone know they can't pay with cash if there is no information beforehand.
And is something like that actually happening in reality? I remember having to ask if it's possible to pay with card, so the opposite of that actually. Doesn't it take away possibility of giving tips?
It was a fun story to be honest, haha. It made me very focused and curious about what will be next.
Also a typo! "The manger was a" instead of manager!
And is something like that actually happening in reality? I remember having to ask if it's possible to pay with card, so the opposite of that actually. Doesn't it take away possibility of giving tips?
It was a fun story to be honest, haha. It made me very focused and curious about what will be next.
Also a typo! "The manger was a" instead of manager!
I've encountered a few places that tell you up front that they don't do cash.
Typo? Feex.
Typo? Feex.
That's the law. If you really want to raise a stink, go to one of these no cash places and pay in cash. There is court precedent for refusing payment in excessive amounts of coins. I've forgotten the details but someone wanted to pay a fine using a dump truck load of pennies. Payment was refused and he cleaned them all back up. Then when they still wanted their money, he said you refused payment, the debt was paid. Lawyers got involved and the judgement was that that refusing payment was legal grounds to declare a debt fulfilled, but that henceforth excessive small denomination coins was a vexacious practice and wouldn't be allowed going forward.
This was actually the first thing that came to my mind when seeing the prompt this week. Glad I decided to change directions (I had a different idea I liked more) because I doubt I would have been able to craft something as perfect as you did here. I am really sick of this trend towards a cashless society. I actually get mocked by my friends for always carrying cash around. Still, jokes on them though when we go to one of the local establishments around that are cash only.
Lovely story as usual. Also, "ponderously." I read one of the GRRM's anthologies a while ago and realized he's a fan of using that word.
To be honest, that's about what I'll tip. I've see wait staff trying to get by on a sub-minimum hourly and tips, and it ain't pretty.
I've been involved with (and a fan of) computers since the early 80's. And I never thought I'd see the day when I felt they would become more of a cause of problems than a solution to them.
And yet, here we are.
Don't get me wrong; I still want my PC by my side. But like any powerful tool, computers are becoming so weaponized that I'm beginning to loathe them more than love them.
And don't get me started on AI.
And yet, here we are.
Don't get me wrong; I still want my PC by my side. But like any powerful tool, computers are becoming so weaponized that I'm beginning to loathe them more than love them.
And don't get me started on AI.
I agree with the badger, this move towards a cashless society is irritating, especially when a car-park no longer takes cash. And speaking of car-parks a few days ago the brand fancy new ANPR machines in a local shopping centre car-park all went down, and the staff didn't want to know as it wasn't installed by them. Technology is fantastic when it actually functions correctly.
I will sometimes say, "I'm a great fan of technology, but sometimes I don't trust anything more complicated than a knife and fork" when I see a cashier having trouble with their cash register.
My favorite burger place is a cash only establishment, and they have signs posted everywhere. It doesn't stop people from coming in and being angry that they can't use their card.
What crazy place wouldn't accept cash?? I'm sure this has happened though... I love the Monty Python aspect!
What crazy place wouldn't accept cash?? I'm sure this has happened though... I love the Monty Python aspect!
There are places like this. Along a certain avenue, I strolled by a Tech Noir styled cafe, accepting only smart phone/debit/credit cards because of 'concerns'. Right next to it, a different themed hip donut place that accepts cash only.
Two months later, Hipster Techie closed. The donut place is still open, as it has for the last fifteen years.
Two months later, Hipster Techie closed. The donut place is still open, as it has for the last fifteen years.
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