Ordering at a restaurant. . .getting what you want

My mom was ordering and she expressed that she didn't want toast, so the waitress suggested she substitute tomatoes for toast.

What a brilliant idea.

"I would also like substitute tomatoes for toast." I said when I ordered my Mediterranean omelette. Nice, that way I'll get some enzymes from the fresh tomatoes while avoiding gluten.

When my plate came out it contained an omelette and several large tomato slices, but no home fries.

"Doesn't this come with home fries?"

"You substituted those for tomatoes."

I explained that my intention was to substitute the toast, not the potatoes (which I love).  She explained that tomatoes were expensive so they can't "stand in" for toast.

Being told that tomatoes were expensive was very annoying.  I said if I had known I couldn't substitute toast for tomatoes, I wouldn't have ordered them.

In any case, she figured out a solution by handing my tomatoes to my Mom and somehow producing a side of home fries.

I never asked for anything, or asked her to do anything.

Moral of the story?  Getting what you want isn't always easy, especially when it doesn't fit the "standard order."  Pointing out the facts as you understand them, however, can be an effective way to get what you want. It sort of gives cues to others about what they can do to solve the problem.

I need two dollars! Two dollars is what I need

The bus driver told her she needed to get off, but she wouldn't budge. She said she needed to get to Bexley. Then a man yelled that we needed to move.

She wouldn't budge.

She began to sing.  It was a beautiful song, with the simple lyrics: "I need two dollars!  Two dollars in what I need!" Then a man sent up his bus pass to try allow her to use it - but it wouldn't work.

She continued to sing.

I didn't have two dollars, only larger bills.  But the young man behind me got up and gave her two dollars.  She entered, then stood at the front of the bud holding on to a strap. And she yelled out "Thank you Ray!  We need more good men like you the world."

Previously, another man had said good luck to "Ray" as though his gesture was merely to get some sexual favor from the young woman.

Her statement and her thanks established her humanness in that moment, and humanity at the same time.