Yesterday I walked into a favorite café. A frazzled mom in line in front of me was trying to rein in a high-energy toddler and wrestle a large diaper bag when she realized she did not have her wallet. She apologized profusely and tried to cancel her order, but it was already done.
I was about to speak up and cover it for her. Someone did it for me once, and I thought I’d pay it forward. The barista spoke before I had the chance. He said not to worry about it, handed her the order, and told her to enjoy her breakfast.
With so much blatant nastiness around us, it’s good to be reminded that there are kind people in the world. And I’m glad we still have neighborly cafes that prioritize long-term customer relationships. I left a huge tip.
The Petrini Page 