The Three-Failure Rule The breakfast attendant was seated in the corner just outside the serving area, scrolling her phone. I approached with my bowl of corn flakes and asked about milk. She looked up. "Waiting on the truck." No apology, no offer of an alternative. Just a statement of fact delivered in a tone that told me she had said it before. Then her eyes went back to her phone. My initial read was reasonable. Things run out. Deliveries get delayed. Grace is appropriate.