A Sweet Lesson In Humanity
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
March 22, 2007 12:46pm CST
Not too long ago I responded to maybe 4 discussions about tipping and the like. Today I was reading my issue of "Bits And Pieces" and came across this story. I wished I could have copied it but alas I finally had to type it out. Ugggg! Anyhow enjoy as this story would have been great to popst as a response to some of those tipping discussions. Enjoy. All responses are greatly appreciated also.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
A SWEET LESSON IN HUMANITY
Many years ago a 10-year-old boy approached the counter of a soda shop & climbed onto a stool. “What does an ice cream sundae cost?” he asked the waitress. Fifty cents the waitress answered. The young boy reached into his pocket & pulled out an assortment of change, counting it carefully as the waitress grew very impatient. She after all had “bigger” tables to wait on. Well how much would just a plain bowl of ice cream cost? He asked her. The waitress responded with noticeable irritation in her voice, Thirty five cents. Again the boy slowly counted his change. May I have some plain ice cream in a dish then please? He gave the waitress the correct change and she brought him the ice cream. Later she returned to clear the boy’s dish & when she picked it up she felt a lump in her throat. There on the counter the boy had left 2 nickels and 5 pennies. She realized the boy had enough money for the sundae but sacrificed that so he could leave her a tip. THE MORAL: before passing judgment, first treat others with courtesy, dignity, and respect.
Adapted from “A Lifetime of Success” Pat Williams
6 people like this
18 responses
@rainbow (6761)
•
22 Mar 07
That is beautiful, gave me goosebumps and a tear to my eye, but you know what a softie I am Grandpa Bob, lol.
Waitresses should be nice to kids anyway, they grass you up to their parents otherwise and after all they are tomorrows customers.
I would never have treated a child with less respect than an adult when I worked in cafes and pubs as second jobs before I had my children, I enjoyed the people it was nice to escape from my office. Of course now I stay at home and do nothing all day, lol far more fun than anyting I did before.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 Mar 07
yes that's true.
My wifes been a waitress at the same restaraunt for 26 years now.
She is now waiting on 3 generations of customers.
She now has Grandparents that were school aged kids when she first waited on them. I and she both thinks thats the coolest thing of being there for so long.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Some very sweey kids. Then again some nasty boys too. Grrr. LOL
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
23 Mar 07
My goodness 26 years, good for you Grandma Deb, I bet she's seen several Little Boys With A Big Heart !!! I'dlike to think so anyway....
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
23 Mar 07
It's harder for me to relate to the tipping part of your story, as we don't tip in Australia. But the moral of your lovely story, applies to us all.
Think before you act... don't pass judgements to soon...
We can never have enough of these morality type stories on My Lot.
2 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
23 Mar 07
I have actually read this story several times Grandpa Bob from the emails that my friends sent me but I still feel a lump in my throat everytime I read this story. It's so touching. It also tells us that we still have capacity to give others and show love even when we think that we have so little. God Bless all those good people in the world who gives us hope that goodness and kindness is still around and so much alive.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
23 Mar 07
Oh grandpa, that was a good one. I do not know if I will do the same thing like that boy did. If a waitress show even just a slight irritation, I will walk away from her right away. But my goodness, this one is just a little boy. I guess I should really exert more on my patience. Thanks for sharing that, grandpa.
2 people like this
@catcai (1056)
• Philippines
23 Mar 07
Hi grandpa! Yeah it would’ve been a great contribution to some of my tipping discussions as well. I came across this story before- before I even was on myLot and it really touched me… It's nice to have to read it again.
I guess this is much more applicable to waiters who are kind of impatient while waiting for their customers orders… no offense ok- because I have experienced being waited on by a some waiters who just seems to have poor frustration tolerance, they can't wait on you for more than a minute =(
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 Mar 07
yeah i wished I'd have came across it earlier to use as a response to your discussions on tipping. Thanks for the response and have fun here. I try real hard as of late. Ugg!
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Thanks for reminding all of us to be more tolerant and treat others with courtesy, dignity and respect. No matter how many times I read that story, it still brings tears to my eyes. It never hurts to be reminded to be kind to someone. You just never know...we've all read the stories of waitresses being left HUGE tips (and I means REALLY BIG tips...the ones that are reported on the news).
1 person likes this
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
26 Mar 07
...and thanks for the Best Response. It's appreciated.
1 person likes this
@thrwbckjay67 (2870)
• United States
22 Mar 07
I think that is the perfect story to show people the importance of humility, generosity, and patience. People forget that in today's fast world that we should slow down and treat everyone fairly.
Thanks for sharing that, it was definitely heart-warming and brought a smile to my face here at work.
2 people like this
@honeyangel (1991)
•
22 Mar 07
thats a lovely story,no boy would do that now adays
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 Mar 07
And no place sells a Sundae for 50 cents either. Almost 3 dollars at some smaller ice cream parlors. HAHAHAHA. hell a scoop of ice cream is close to 2 dollars. Gawddd I wish it was the 60's again. LOL
1 person likes this
@RobinJ (2501)
• Canada
23 Mar 07
I do not get the chance to go out to eat very often but when I am invited and not have to pay I always offer to pay the tip, as it is the least i can do I do tip for service not on the food, but I alway leave a little something that wasn't an insult,
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 Mar 07
The wife and I are great tippers as she knows
what it's like to get stiffed on a tip.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
23 Mar 07
This story still chokes me up when I read it. Thanks for sharing, Grandpa Bob. I always tip even if the service is bad. But the better the service, the greater the tip from me and I do tend to overtip when I feel the waitress/waiter deserves it.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
22 Mar 07
Incredible Grandpa Bob. I am glad you took the effort to type it out.
But then, I don't understand why the child must leave 2 nickels and 5 pennies. Why can't he just leave less?
Anyway that waitress is nasty. :P If I were her, I would be nicer to the boy. He's only a boy.. so adorable! :P
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 Mar 07
I think he left it all because back then kids were nicer to their elders etc. As I recall when I was young I'd go to the local Woolworths ice cream parlor and leave all the change I had left over also. be it 3 cents or a dollar. I was a nice child. (to a point) HAHAHA. Thanks for the response. As far as typing it out, LOL, I've gotten used to copy paste that items like this are a time consuming task for me now. HAHAHA. J/K. Thanks again for the response.
AHPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
23 Mar 07
WOW... when I was a kid, I just want to save enough to buy that little candy. But then again, we don't encouraging tipping in Singapore. Yet then again (again), I didn't really need to save for anything I want. I just need to pout and sulk, and my nice parents will get it for me. :P
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
26 Mar 07
Awwww. This sent chills right through me so very touching thanks for sharing it with us!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
26 Mar 07
yes. Very sweet. Very touching.
And most of all a lesson we all need to take to heart.
Thanks for the response also.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
23 Mar 07
This is truly a heartening story. What a sensible child the 10-year old boy is. He is really innocent to leave a tip after how the waitress treated him. Shame on the waitress. I guess we would learn much more from this episode if the boy was an adult.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Children are absolutely amazing at times huh?
Thanks for the response also.
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
23 Mar 07
Guess I am a softy this was heartwarming and yet it came so close to bringing a tear to my eye. This is so true of what life can actually be.
1 person likes this
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Very good story, and am very glad you typed it out it was worth the effort. thank you.
1 person likes this
