Waitress Refuses To Serve Couple Saying She Chooses “Morals Over Money”

A Busy Night

The pub where Bethany Jones worked was getting very busy.

It was a Friday night, and she knew she would have her hands full, especially when customers had a little too much to drink.

After serving up a few meals and drinks and greeting the regulars, she heard some unsavory comments coming from one of her tables. She was not going to put up with it.

Bethany Jones

Bethany Jones worked at The Pirate’s Den Pub and Grill in Cleveland, Ohio.

She had been a waitress there for over five years, and the owner, Derek, treated her like gold and paid her very well.

To him, she was his best waitress because the customers always complimented her on her wonderful service and kind and friendly smile.

Happy Customers

She mostly had the best customers, and they tipped her well, too.

Bethany prided herself on keeping her customers happy at all times, even though some of them could get rather obnoxious.

Bethany was a pretty 25-year-old, and because of this, some customers, especially if they had too much to drink, thought they could say whatever they wanted to her.

Inappropriate Much?

Some of them were nice, but others were downright creepy and inappropriate. It was those ones that Bethany would put in their place. 

“Watch your mouth and keep your hands yourself, mister. You don’t want to see the bad side of me,” she would warn them.

She was feisty and could hold her own. That’s why Derek admired her so much.

Derek, The Owner

Derek Brown was like a father figure to Bethany, and he always looked out for her. He planned on making her the manager soon. It was going to be a surprise.

He had watched her through the years, and she was hardworking and dedicated.

She was the perfect candidate for the position because he trusted her.

Much-Loved

He would be losing a much-loved waitress, but he would be gaining an experienced and driven manager. He couldn’t wait to break the news to her next week. 

It would be her 26th birthday, and he wanted to gift the position to her.

He had no doubt in his mind that she would accept it. Bethany was the daughter he never had.

Having Her Back

Bethany smiled when she saw Derek watching her work. She knew that he always had her back. And on this Friday, she was going to need him more than ever.

The early dinner crowd was pouring in, and Bethany knew that the place was going to be very busy.

Not only was it payday, but it was football season as well. A double-whammy for her.

Very Rowdy

She knew on such days that the crowds could get very rowdy, especially if there was a game on one of their many big screen TVs and, of course, if they had one too many drinks in them.

But Bethany was used to it, and she had seen it all in the five years of waitressing at The Den.

She braced herself for what was about to come her way.

A Regular

It was then that a regular patron had walked through the door. This customer was so regular that Bethany was on a first-name basis with her. 

“Hey Gina, nice to see you here this evening. What can I get for you? The usual, I presume?” Bethany asked politely.

This made the woman smile. To her, Bethany was an angel.

Date Night

“Thanks, Beth. The usual is perfect. I have a date tonight, so I’m just waiting for him to arrive,” Gina replied.

Bethany smiled and then hugged Gina.

“That’s great, girl. I hope everything goes well for you tonight. If he turns out to be a creep, just signal me. I’ll help you out,” Bethany said with confidence.

Trouble

About 30 minutes later, Gina and her date were laughing and talking the night away. Bethany winked at her. She was glad that her friend was having a good time.

However, all of that was about to change when two patrons walked into the pub.

When Bethany saw them, she knew that they would be trouble. She could just feel it.

One Of Her Tables

And to her dismay, they sat down at one of her tables. She sighed while she got menus for them.

She took a deep breath and approached the couple at the table.

“Good evening. Great night outside, huh? What can I get for you?” she asked in the friendliest voice that she could muster.

A Blank Stare

The man and woman just stared at her blankly without even greeting her.

“Yeah, can we get two Bud Lights for the time being,” the man replied.

Bethany took their orders and knew that the couple was going to be difficult. She could just feel it in her bones. No greeting, no please or thank you. Her night was about to get worse.

Brushing It Off

She brushed it off and continued to serve her other tables. At least her friend Gina was having a great night, she thought. But that was about to change.

It wasn’t long before Bethany could see that her friend’s face had changed. She looked a little annoyed and embarrassed. What was going on? Bethany was about to find out.

From Happy To Sad

It was like a switch had flipped, and her friend went from happy to sad. Did her date have something to do with it?

Bethany stood by the bar to try to make sense of what was going on.

Everything looked fine between Gina and her date. It was something else that had made her sad. And then, Bethany saw it. 

Tears In Her Eyes

It was the table with the couple who had just arrived. It looked like they were passing some comments to Gina that were clearly upsetting her.

Bethany decided to step in. After all, it was her tables. “Excuse me, is everything alright here?” she asked politely but firmly. It was then that Gina looked up at her with tears in her eyes.

Something Is Going On

“Yeah, something is going on here. What kind of establishment is this? When did y’all become so woke all of a sudden?” the man asked.

Bethany was taken aback. She didn’t know what the man was talking about.

“Sir, could you please elaborate on what you are referring to, please?” she replied, trying to remain as civilized as possible.

This Kind

The man looked Bethany dead in the eyes and said, “I’m referring to this person sitting here. Why are you allowing this kind in here? Are you asking for a boycott?”

Bethany could feel the blood in her veins boiling.

She knew exactly what he meant, but she wanted him to say it out loud. 

It

“What exactly do you mean by ‘this kind’?” Bethany asked.

The man was getting very annoyed now, and Bethany could see it. It was what she wanted.

“Are you dumb or just plain stupid? I’m referring to this person on my right who doesn’t know if it’s a man or a woman. And I call the person “it” because I don’t know what “it” is either,” he said, and the couple burst out laughing.

Blatant Disrespect

Bethany’s face flushed with anger as she clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her composure in the face of such blatant disrespect. 

Gina’s date, who had been initially silent, looked equally appalled by the derogatory comments. Bethany had dealt with difficult customers before, but this was an entirely different level of bigotry. She wasn’t going to stand for it.

No Hateful Language

With steely determination in her eyes, Bethany leaned in closer to them, her voice shaking with suppressed rage. 

“Listen here, I won’t tolerate any of that hateful language in my pub. You’re free to have your drinks and enjoy your night, but if you continue to insult or harass anyone in this establishment, I’ll have no choice but to ask you to leave.”

Tense Atmosphere

The atmosphere in the pub grew tense as nearby customers and staff began to take notice of the situation. Gina, still on the verge of tears, nodded her appreciation to Bethany for standing up for her.

The couple, emboldened by alcohol, scoffed at Bethany’s warning. “You can’t tell us what to do, sweetheart. We have our rights, you know,” the woman sneered, her eyes defiant.

Trouble At Table 5

Bethany was determined not to let this go. She quickly reached for her phone and dialed Derek, the owner of the pub, who had always supported her.

“Derek, we’ve got a problem at Table 5. Two customers are causing a scene, using hateful language, and harassing another patron. I need you down here.”

Derek, who was in his office, responded immediately, “I’ll be right there, Bethany. Just hold tight, and don’t let things escalate any further.”

Not Backing Down

With her boss on the way, Bethany stood her ground, refusing to back down even as the couple continued their offensive remarks. 

Gina’s date, enraged by the situation, got up and addressed the men directly, “You should show some respect, and if you can’t do that, leave. People like you don’t belong here.” But the couple stayed put.

Drama

The pub grew quieter as patrons watched the drama unfold, waiting for the owner to arrive and for justice to be served. 

Bethany, determined to protect her customers and maintain a safe, inclusive environment, knew she was in for a long night.

But she was prepared to fight for what was right, whatever it took.

Derek Arrives

Moments later, Derek arrived at the scene, his presence commanding attention as he walked up to the unruly customers. 

With a stern expression, he said, “I’m Derek, the owner of this establishment, and I have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech and harassment in my pub. You can either show some respect or leave now.”

Leaving

The couple exchanged uneasy glances, realizing they were facing a united front. Derek’s reputation as a fair and principled owner was well-known, and they understood they had little room to maneuver. 

Grudgingly, they decided to gather their belongings and head for the exit, silenced by the strong stance of the pub’s staff.

“We don’t like this stupid pub in any case!” the man shouted as they exited the pub.

A Lesson Learned

Derek turned to Bethany and gave her a nod of approval. “You handled that well, Beth. I’m proud of you.”

He then addressed the entire pub, saying, “Let this be a lesson to all: The Pirate’s Den is a place for everyone, and we won’t tolerate discrimination or hate. We’re here to enjoy good company, food, and drink together.”

The pub’s patrons broke into applause, applauding not just Derek but also Bethany’s courage and dedication. At that moment, it was clear that the spirit of unity and acceptance was stronger than any form of bigotry.

Turning the Night Around

The rest of the evening continued without any further disruptions, and Bethany’s dedication to her job and her customers shone even brighter. Gina’s date turned out to be a charming companion, and they enjoyed a pleasant evening.

As the night wore on, Bethany couldn’t help but reflect on the incident. She knew that even in the face of adversity, she had taken a stand for what was right, and the pub’s patrons had rallied behind her.

It was a night that reinforced her commitment to her job, her customers, and the values of The Pirate’s Den Pub and Grill.

A Surprising Gift

A week later, on her 26th birthday, Derek kept his promise. He called Bethany into his office and, with a smile, handed her a manager’s name tag.

“Beth, you’ve proven that you’re not only an outstanding waitress but a fearless defender of our values. I’m proud to promote you to the position of manager.”

Tears welled up in Bethany’s eyes as she accepted the name tag. She had not only stood up for her customers but also earned the respect of her boss and the entire pub. It was a fitting reward for her dedication, and she knew she was ready for this new chapter in her career at The Pirate’s Den.