Singing for Starbucks

As you know, I'm visiting family in the Houston area. Well, when I woke up this morning, I needed a nice warm chai tea to start my day. So, while my sweet sister (who's a fabulous hostess) made banana pancakes for my kids and hers, I plugged in the address for the nearest Starbucks into my new GPS. (I am having too much fun playing with this thing!)

So, after finding it no problem, I procede through the drivethru. I ordered two chai teas, made the special way I like them. However, then the coversation took a different turn...

Hopped-up-on-caffeine Starbucks guy: If you sing your order, it'll be free.
Me (sleepy and confused): Um, no thanks. (is he nuts?)
Hopped-up: Your total is $8.64, are you sure you don't want to sing for it? It'll be free!
Me (waking up slowly. I did hear the word FREE): Ok, wait, if I sing my order, you're really going to give me the drinks for free?
Hopped-up: Yep.
Me: You promise?
Him: Yep.
Me: I don't have to sing well, do I?
Him: Nope, if you sang well, then you'd be rich, and it wouldn't matter if you got a free order. The worse the better.
Me: Ok. There are no recording devices involved, right?
Him: Nope.
Me: Ok, you know what, I need you to sing first.
Him (way too willing): Grande and venti soy, no-water chai's!! (he sang really well)
Me: Ok, I'll do it. It's really free?
Him: Yep.

And, yes, I sang. In a psuedo-opera voice. My Starbucks order. Humiliated but figuring this was good blog material.

And, my order was free.

As he handed me my drinks, he said that he couldn't talk most people into singing for their drinks. I was kind of surprised. I shouldn't be though, after all, my initial reaction was not to sing either. I'm a shy person, not outgoing, and I never, ever, ever sing in front of people. We as a people are suspicious of a good deal, aren't we? I figured there were strings attached. There may have been, ones I didn't know about.

Who's covering these free drinks? It is a promotional deal? A dare among employees? I love it.

So, that's how I sang for my supper, I mean, my Starbucks.