HOW MUCH FOR A CHINESE BUFFET?

Oh My Goodness. I remember Pearl Buck's books (from my youth--mother had all her books I think) about the poor Chinese and the war in their homeland. The books affected me with sorrow for and pride in the Chinese. I loved the people and what they wanted and their struggles toward it. Admiration loomed large in me.

I remember being upset about Chang Kai-shek being thrown out of mainland China and moving to Taiwan. After all, in my mind he was mainly responsible for defeating the Japanese Empire in China.

I had mucho respect for him and the Chinese people.

Which has what to do with a buffet? Well, nothing really. Just wanted you to know this post is not racially motivated.

We had company over in the afternoon on Mother's Day. A younger woman who looks on Wild Thing as her foster mother. You know, women who really like each other. Not that they talk too much, but that they always seem to have something to say to each other.

In any case, the afternoon wore on into early evening and we invited her to go with a us to a Chinese Buffet for dinner. That turned out to be a mistake. Not because she was dominant nor anything like that. But her presence caused me to stifle it. My anger, that is.

Happily we drove to the restaurant (China Star) and yakked our way up to the cashier's desk.

I spoke to the cashier, told her three and was presented with a bill for over $45. "Uh," I said intelligently, "I think you made a mistake. There are only three of us."

"Oh, no," she replied, looking as if I might jump the counter and abuse her physically, "on Mother's Day price is different. Sign is on door."

I went and looked and found the sign. She was right. The had raised their prices by almost 50 per cent. Per person. For Mother's Day.

Now, I had forgotten what day it was (WT is not my mother. She doesn't score anything from me on that day). Well, maybe dinner out. There are four kids to give her presents.

I did remember that, having taken my mother and dad out in the past, most restaurants gave some kind of little present to mothers on that day. China Star's present was an unjustified price increase. I pointed this out to the cashier, who responded with a weak smile and a "Would you like to see Manager?"

At this point the ladies faces were dropping. I chose not to make any more of a scene and paid the bill. Not meekly, however. I gave the bill a glare that should have ignited it into flames. That didn't happen, so I signed it.

I did whisper to the cashier, while the ladies entered the dining room, "I'd like you to give the manager a message. Tell him that he got me for 50 per cent more on Mother's Day, but he has lost my business for the rest of his life."

She promised she would pass my message on, but if she did, the manager never came to our table.

I guess I'm getting tired of being ripped off.