True Story
A few years ago, a friend and I got together for lunch a week or so before Christmas. In the same restaurant were two army enlisted men in camo fatigues. I asked the waitress to bring me their bill, $29.63 with tip, and I paid it for them. I feel I still owe them much more.
Later that day, on my way home from work, I stopped at a department store to finish my Christmas shopping. It was hectic and as I waited my turn at the jewelry counter, customer after customer snapped at the lone clerk working. When it was finally my turn, I smiled at her and asked her to help me pick out some earrings for my three daughters. I had a few other things from other sections of the store to pay for and, eyeing the long check out line, the clerk offered to check out my things at her counter. One of the items came up with the wrong price. I pointed that out gently and she looked it up manually and saw that I was correct. She started to apologize and I laughed about it, telling her it was no big deal. I asked her how she stayed sane in this mad house of Christmas shopping. She smiled and told me people had been practically screaming at her all day and I was the first person to treat her civilly. She was so grateful, she told me I was getting the "family and friends" discount. I thanked her, wished her a Merry Christmas and went home.
At home I looked at the receipt. My discount came to exactly $29.63.
Later that day, on my way home from work, I stopped at a department store to finish my Christmas shopping. It was hectic and as I waited my turn at the jewelry counter, customer after customer snapped at the lone clerk working. When it was finally my turn, I smiled at her and asked her to help me pick out some earrings for my three daughters. I had a few other things from other sections of the store to pay for and, eyeing the long check out line, the clerk offered to check out my things at her counter. One of the items came up with the wrong price. I pointed that out gently and she looked it up manually and saw that I was correct. She started to apologize and I laughed about it, telling her it was no big deal. I asked her how she stayed sane in this mad house of Christmas shopping. She smiled and told me people had been practically screaming at her all day and I was the first person to treat her civilly. She was so grateful, she told me I was getting the "family and friends" discount. I thanked her, wished her a Merry Christmas and went home.
At home I looked at the receipt. My discount came to exactly $29.63.
