Double Lottery
September 20, 2008
Pretty simple, really … but not really.
I went to Waffle House with my two boys for a late breakfast Saturday morning. You gotta love the hustle and bustle, the smells, the people! (what is smothered, covered, squared anyway?). Well, a young waitress served us well and in my wallet was the “You matter to God” card associated with my homework. As I scanned the bill, $22.00, I realized a 30% tip (yes, my homework, tip someone 30% or more) was going to be just north of $6.00 … I didn’t think $6 would get noticed, even with the card. So, as I reached into my pocket and pulled out a 20-dollar bill off the roll of bills in my pocket (more on that later) and proceeded to drop the twenty on the table with the card underneath it (yes, I was a little hesitent about the whole deal, but was not leaving without completing my homework). As I walked to the cashier, I could hear the young waitress squeal with delight as she, and the elderly man who was bussing tables and playing host, found the tip and, I assume, the card. I was unsure what was going to happen next and tried to keep my cool in case I was accosted by a waitress who wanted to talk more about God and was I ready for that ? Well, as I paid the cashier the waitress came up to the counter and said a simple “Thank you very much, have a nice day” and walked away. It was a simple, short thank you, but I noticed (or thought I did) a welling of tears in her eyes as she turned to go back to her station. Well, I thought, that wasn’t so bad…didn’t have to stand up on the breakfast bar and preach the gospel or anything. Just turn go and head to the bank. But as I am leaving the front door, the elderly gentleman who was taking names, bussing tables and serving coffee to the incoming crowd of Waffle House devotees, stops me and a simply says, “She really appreciated that !”. I nodded and turned to go again and he stopped me again and said, ” No, you don’t understand, she really appreciated that !”.
Now, I hope it was the cash that made her squeal and card that she appreciated, I may never know. Either way, it was quite a few minutes for me and was eager to tell the story, so here it is. But that isn’t the end …
I mentioned a roll of bills I had in my pocket and a trip to the bank. Well, funny enough, the night before at a local high school football game, I wagered $5 on the classic “split-the-pot” and ended up winning $272 cash. A nice roll of 10’s and 20’s. This tidy bankroll was destined for the bank to pay off some bills or maybe a new golf club. Well, as I am driving out of the parking lot of the little Waffle House I realize that the money in my pocket was never intended for me at all. It was placed there for just a simple moment like this morning. When a $20 bill might change the life of a young waitress, an elderly busboy or anyone else in the restaurant whom they share the story with.
So I have $262 left … I’m going to need some more cards.
David B.
