Learning English

Daniel
Hello.

Janet
Hi.

Daniel
How are you doing? I was wondering if you were gonna show up.

Janet
Oh, sorry. I’m a bit late.

Daniel
I’m only kidding. I’m only kidding.

Janet
That was funny.

Daniel
At first, she was about thirty minutes late, which is fine. I can get over that. But she had really nice energy when I first saw her.

Daniel
Right, so I’ve had quite a lot of time to look at the menu.

Janet
Oh great.

Daniel
Yeah.

Janet
Yeah.

Daniel
And I was thinking of getting this, the pasta. Doesn’t that look great?

Janet
Erm… yeah… I have a voucher and I’m not sure that applies? Basically, it’s… it applies to the children’s menu. So you can choose something off that?

Daniel
Oh, it’s just I’m… I’m famished at the moment. I’m really quite hungry. So I was thinking I need quite a big meal.

Janet
Right, okay.

Daniel
So… maybe if I, I’ll just, don’t worry about the voucher… if you go for something on the children’s menu. If you’re okay with that.

Janet
Yeah.

Daniel
Then, we’ll split.

Janet
Okay.

Daniel
So, we’ll both save money.

Janet
Sorry, split what?

Daniel
The bill?

Janet
We’re not gonna split it halfway because obviously the pasta will be more.

Daniel
That’s right, okay.

Janet
Yeah, sure.

Daniel
That was… presumptuous of me.

Janet
No that’s okay, don’t worry.

Daniel
Right.

Daniel
I wouldn’t say it went well. Erm, I think she’s a bit cheap. She kept asking me about how much I earned. There was a lot of squabbling over the menu.

Daniel
So Janet, tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you do?

Janet
Erm, so I’m a sales assistant.

Daniel
Oh wow!

Janet
Yeah, I really like it.

Daniel
Yeah?

Janet
Don’t get paid enough though.

Daniel
I know.

Janet
It’s ridiculous.

Daniel
Tell me about it.

Janet
It’s terrible. Where do you work?

Daniel
Er, I work in advertising.

Janet
Oh right. So, you probably get paid quite a lot.

Daniel
I get… it’s an alright wage, but erm… I don't really like talking about money that much.

Janet
Sure, it’s a bit vulgar, isn’t it?

Daniel
Yeah.

Daniel
So, she didn’t want to pay a tip. I used to work in hospitality and I wasn’t very comfortable about that. I actually ended up paying for the whole meal, which I think was a little bit unfair.

Daniel
So, if we split it, that’s twen…

Janet
Sorry, can I just remind you we’re not splitting it. I’m paying with… a voucher.

Daniel
The voucher, sorry… the voucher.

Janet
You’re paying for...

Daniel
So, let me have a look…er, for you that would be £12 plus tip… that’s 15…

Janet
Sorry, tip?

Daniel
Oh, for the… for the waiter.

Janet
Oh no, that’s discretionary.

Daniel
Oh yeah, but they were so nice.

Janet
Yeah, but I don’t have to pay them tip. I didn’t ask them to be nice.

Daniel
I know you don’t have to. I used to work in hospitality… trust me… they don’t get paid anything. This is, this is how they… make their living.

Janet
Well, then they should have chosen another career.

Daniel
Okay. I tell you what, I’ll pay your tip. It’s fine.

Janet
Oh.

Daniel
I don’t feel that comfortable about…

Janet
Okay, I mean if you feel that strongly about it then… that’s fine. Erm, can I just check you’re also paying for the wine and the garlic bread cos I didn’t order that.

Daniel
You did have quite a lot of the wine.

Daniel
Ah, if she pays for the meal. No, probably not.