The Café Conundrum

**Characters:**

ANNA (A): A friendly café owner.
MARK (M): A customer trying to book a special event.
LIAM (L): Mark’s friend, who sometimes gets confused.

**Setting:** Inside a cozy but busy café. Anna is behind the counter. Mark and Liam enter.

(SCENE START)

MARK: (To Liam, a bit flustered) Are you sure this is the place? It looks busy.

LIAM: (Looking around confidently) Yes, this is "The Daily Grind"! My friend said their coffee is amazing. And they do private parties, right?

MARK: (Approaching the counter) Excuse me, are you Anna?

ANNA: (Smiling warmly) That’s me! Welcome to The Daily Grind. What can I get for you two?

MARK: We’re not here for coffee just yet. My name is Mark, and this is Liam. I called last week about booking your back room for a small birthday gathering.

ANNA: Oh, yes, Mark! The 40th birthday for your wife, wasn’t it? I remember. Please, come in. It’s a bit noisy out here.

(Anna gestures them to a quieter spot near the counter.)

MARK: Thanks. So, I wanted to finalize the reservation. We’re expecting about fifteen people.

ANNA: Great! For the back room, we usually require a minimum of ten. Fifteen is perfect. What date were you thinking of again?

MARK: We were hoping for **Saturday, July 20th**. In the evening, around 7 PM.

LIAM: (Interjecting) Oh, wait, Mark! My calendar says July **22nd**. Are you sure it's the 20th?

MARK: (Sighs, checking his phone) Liam, we discussed this! It’s definitely the 20th. July 22nd is a Monday. Nobody wants a birthday party on a Monday.

LIAM: (Muttering) Right, Mondays are terrible for parties. My mistake.

ANNA: (Chuckling) No problem at all! Let me just check my booking system… (She types on a tablet) Okay, yes, the back room is **available** on Saturday, July 20th, from 7 PM. How long do you think you’ll need the room for?

MARK: Probably about three hours. We’d like to have some light appetizers and drinks. Can you tell me about your catering options?

ANNA: Absolutely! For private events, we have a few set menus, or we can customize something. Our most popular is the "Evening Bites" package – it includes mini quiches, spring rolls, and a selection of local cheeses. It’s very popular.

LIAM: (Eyes wide) Mini quiches! Are they… mini?

MARK: (Ignoring Liam) That sounds perfect, Anna. What’s the cost per person for that package?

ANNA: For fifteen people, the "Evening Bites" would be $25 per person, plus a 15% service charge. That includes unlimited soft drinks, and you can add a limited bar option for an extra $10 per person.

MARK: That’s reasonable. Let’s go with the "Evening Bites" and the limited bar. So, to confirm, that’s Saturday, July 20th, 7 PM, for fifteen people, for three hours, in the back room.

ANNA: (Smiling) That’s correct, Mark! I’ll send you a confirmation email with all the details and a small deposit request. We just ask for a 20% deposit to secure the booking.

MARK: Excellent! Thank you so much, Anna. We’re really looking forward to it.

LIAM: (Patting Mark on the back) Great job, Mark! Now, can we finally get some of that amazing coffee?

ANNA: Of course! What can I get for you two?

(SCENE END)

Vocabulary List

Click on each term to hear pronunciation!

Flustered
Confused, agitated, or nervous, especially by a minor problem or unexpected situation.
Example: "(To Liam, a bit **flustered**) Are you sure this is the place?"
Interject
To interrupt a conversation or a speaker with a comment or question.
Example: "(Liam **interjecting**) Oh, wait, Mark! My calendar says July 22nd."
Mutter
To say something in a low or barely audible voice, often to oneself, especially when expressing annoyance or embarrassment.
Example: "Liam (**muttering**) Right, Mondays are terrible for parties."
Sighs
To let out a long, deep, audible breath expressing tiredness, relief, sadness, or exasperation/annoyance.
Example: "(Mark **sighs**, checking his phone) Liam, we discussed this!"
Chuckle
To laugh quietly or inwardly.
Example: "Anna (**chuckling**) No problem at all! Let me just check my booking system…"
Customize
To modify (something) to suit a particular individual or task.
Example: "For private events, we have a few set menus, or we can **customize** something."
Secure
To succeed in obtaining something, especially something difficult to get; to make certain of something.
Example: "We just ask for a 20% deposit to **secure** the booking."
Conundrum
A confusing and difficult problem or question.
Example: "The Café **Conundrum**"
Cozy
Giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation.
Example: "Inside a **cozy** but busy café."
Appetizers
Small dishes served before the main course of a meal.
Example: "We’d like to have some light **appetizers** and drinks."
Quiches
A baked flan or tart with a savory filling thickened with eggs and cream.
Example: "Our most popular is the 'Evening Bites' package – it includes mini **quiches**..."
Spring Rolls
A savory Chinese pancake roll with a chopped filling, usually of mixed vegetables, fried golden.
Example: "...spring **rolls**, and a selection of local cheeses."
Selection
A range of choices or options.
Example: "...and a **selection** of local cheeses."
Service Charge
An additional fee added to a bill for services rendered, often in hospitality.
Example: "...plus a 15% **service charge**."
Deposit Request
A formal asking for an initial payment, often refundable, to secure a booking or purchase.
Example: "I’ll send you a confirmation email with all the details and a small **deposit request**."
Confidently
In a self-assured or certain way.
Example: "(Looking around **confidently**) Yes, this is 'The Daily Grind'!"
Warmly
In a friendly, kind, or affectionate manner.
Example: "(Smiling **warmly**) That’s me! Welcome to The Daily Grind."
Reasonable
Fair and sensible; not too high or expensive.
Example: "That’s **reasonable**."
Get Confused
To be unable to understand or distinguish between things; to become muddled.
Example: "...Liam, who sometimes **gets confused**."
Looking Forward To
To feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen.
Example: "We’re really **looking forward to** it."
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