Diver Down (Or "What Happened to My 4th Piece of Toast?")

I have often wondered why it is that The Diner in Adams Morgan only serves 3 slices of toast with its eggs. Well, after years of pondering in the desert, I have been told what amounts to, at least, a partial explanation: they were often throwing the 4th piece away from bussed plates. So, ingeniously, they decided to remove that oft-wasted 4th piece (NB: I promised not to quote the long-time server who gave me this information, so this IS NOT a quote). Of course, the astute journalist that I am, I needed to ask: "So do they stow away the 4th for the next customer's 3 pieces??" He said, perhaps (not a quote) , to which I replied, "Of course, you work the front of the house, not the kitchen." He seemed to appreciate my facile use of the insider lingo. Finally came the time for me to humbly admit that my question must surely be the tabby cat of all questions posed to The Diner servers regarding their operations. Indeed, it was.

(NB: The photographic evidence was taken with the clandestine spy camera that I inherited from my grandfather, along with a toolbox, many years ago. Please do not reproduce).