Daily English – The Lost Order

In a Restaurant: The Lost Order

Characters:

LIAM: A waiter, friendly and a little busy.
CHLOE: A customer, polite and a little confused.
NOAH: Another customer, a bit impatient.

Setting:

A table in a busy restaurant.

(The scene opens with CHLOE sitting at a table. LIAM approaches.)

LIAM: Hello! Welcome. Are you ready to order?

CHLOE: Yes, thank you. I would like the... um... the chicken salad sandwich, please.

LIAM: Okay, one chicken salad sandwich. Anything to drink?

CHLOE: Just water, please.

LIAM: Great. I'll be right back with your water.

(Liam goes to get the water. NOAH approaches the table.)

NOAH: Excuse me?

CHLOE: Oh, hello. Are you waiting for this table?

NOAH: No, no. I ordered a pizza about twenty minutes ago. Have you seen a waiter?

CHLOE: Our waiter just left. He's wearing a blue shirt.

NOAH: Blue shirt... okay. Thanks.

(Liam returns with Chloe's water.)

LIAM: Here's your water.

CHLOE: Thank you.

NOAH: (To Liam) Excuse me! I ordered a pizza a while ago. Where is it?

LIAM: Oh, I'm so sorry! What kind of pizza did you order?

NOAH: Pepperoni! A large pepperoni pizza.

LIAM: Pepperoni... Hmm. I don't have a pepperoni pizza here. Are you sure you told me?

NOAH: Yes, I'm sure! I've been waiting a long time.

CHLOE: Maybe there was a mistake?

LIAM: (Thinking) Let me check the kitchen again. I apologize for the wait.

(Liam hurries off. Chloe looks at Noah sympathetically.)

CHLOE: This restaurant is very busy tonight.

NOAH: I'm very hungry. I hope they didn't forget my order.

(Liam returns, looking a little flustered.)

LIAM: I am so sorry! There was a mix-up in the kitchen. Your pepperoni pizza will be ready in about five minutes.

NOAH: Five more minutes?

LIAM: Yes, I'm very sorry. Can I get you something while you wait? Maybe some bread?

NOAH: (Sighs) Okay, some bread would be nice.

LIAM: Great. I'll get that for you right away. And your sandwich will be out soon too, ma'am.

CHLOE: Thank you.

(Liam goes to get the bread. Noah looks a little less impatient.)

CHLOE: Hopefully, the food will be good.

NOAH: I hope so too. I’m really looking forward to that pizza.

(The lights fade.)

Discussion Questions

What did Chloe order?
Why was Noah impatient?
What was the problem with Noah's order?
How did Liam try to make up for the mistake?
Have you ever had a lost order in a restaurant? What happened?
What is the difference between being "impatient" and "flustered"?

Vocabulary List

waiter 🔊: a person who serves food and drink at the tables in a restaurant.
- Example: The waiter took our order quickly.
- Example: Liam is a friendly waiter.
confused 🔊: unable to understand something or think clearly.
- Example: She looked confused by the difficult question.
- Example: Chloe was a little confused when Noah approached.
impatient 🔊: having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked when waiting.
- Example: Noah became impatient while waiting for his pizza.
- Example: Don't be so impatient; the bus will be here soon.
approach 🔊: to come near or nearer to someone or something.
- Example: The cat slowly approached the bird.
- Example: Liam approached the table to take the order.
sympathetically 🔊: in a way that shows sympathy.
- Example: Chloe looked at Noah sympathetically.
- Example: The teacher listened sympathetically to the student's problem.
flustered 🔊: agitated or confused.
- Example: Liam looked a little flustered when he returned from the kitchen.
- Example: She gets easily flustered when she has too many tasks.
mix-up 🔊: a confusion or mistake.
- Example: There was a mix-up with the room bookings.
- Example: Liam said there was a mix-up in the kitchen.
apologize 🔊: to express regret for something done or said.
- Example: He apologized for being late.
- Example: Liam apologized for the wait.
look forward to 🔊: to feel pleasure because you are going to do something or something is going to happen.
- Example: I'm really looking forward to my vacation.
- Example: Noah was looking forward to his pizza.

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