The Decline

Let me begin by saying ladies; always carry a backup form of payment to avoid the situation I am about to share. It is a situation where the boyfriend of yours invites you to a first class dinner. Showers you with compliments and promises to end the night with champagne and strawberries. Oh that’s right, we’re talking about someone I once dated. The dinner: Chicken and Waffles. Dress code: Sweaty work clothes. The bill: Unpaid. So exactly how did this night pan itself out?

As a promotional model often times you find yourself working in bars and restaurants promoting various brands of alcohol and “top notch” liqueurs. That evening I was promoting a product that left me smelling like children’s grape cough syrup. I invited the man I was dating at the time to the event since I knew the Warriors (Go Monta!) game would be on and I could slip him some free samples. As he waited for my shift to be over he became anxious and ready to embrace Oakland’s classic Chicken and Waffles platter.

By the end of my shift the food had arrived and an extra set of utensils was brought out for me. After a mundane dinner conversation where I was scolded on not hustling enough free samples to him, three clogged arteries, and a $40 bill later, it was time to pay. I shuffled through my purse in search for my credit card realizing I had not even thought to bring it since I was planning to only be at work. He looked at me and smiled, “I got it.”

As he handed the card to the waiter I couldn’t help but be impressed with his generosity. He was not the type to pay, after all, in these times everything was 50/50 and we did split the bill quite often. Thank you feminist movement. The waiter returned with an uncomfortable look and stated “It looks like your card declined, do you have another?” My company looked horrified as he sifted through his wallet for a second card. Nothing. I diffused the situation by reminding him I always keep cash in my car for emergencies. Needless to say, I felt horrible for him, no one wants to hear "you've been declined."

Fortunately, I knew the bartender from previous events I had been apart of and had some company as my boyfriend searched my car for a form of payment. He ran back inside and impatiently questioned why it was not in there. "Why don't you have any money on you?!" Rude. Long story short, one hour and a half later I was sitting in an empty Chicken and Waffles with a bartender, a homeless man spouting off words of wisdom he claims Jesus told him about premarital sex in downtown Oakland. It was not ideal.

Oh but fellas, this is what I would like you to take note of. When you return to a closed down restaurant that you left your girlfriend at for almost two hours because you failed to bring a proper form of payment; do not pay with her debit card that you found at the house that was only twenty minutes away. Do not give her the cold shoulder on the way back home as she consoles you saying “it happens.” Do not lecture her on talking to strange men late at night when that is exactly where you left her. And most importantly, do not do this twice.

Yes it is true, this was the first of two events where my boyfriend attempted to sweep me off my feet with a maxed out credit card and used mine to pay.We didn't work out.