The old man shuffled slowly into the restaurant. With head
tilted, and shoulders bent forward, he leaned on his trusty cane
with each unhurried step.
His tattered cloth jacket, patched trousers, worn out shoes, and
warm personality made him stand out from the usual Saturday
morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes
that sparkled like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips
held in a tight, steady smile.
He stopped, turned with his whole body, and winked at a little
girl seated by the door. She flashed a big grin right back at
him. A young waitress named Mary watched him shuffle toward a
table by the window.
Mary ran over to him, and said, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a
hand with that chair."
Without saying a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She
pulled the chair away from the table. Steadying him with one arm,
she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably
seated. Then she scooted the table up close to him, and leaned
his cane against the table where he could reach it.
In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss. And bless you
for your kind gestures."
"You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "And my name is Mary. I'll be
back in a moment, and if you need anything at all in the mean
time, just wave at me!"
After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot
lemon tea, Mary brought him the change from his ticket. He left
it lay. She helped him up from his chair, and out from behind the
table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front
door.
Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us,
Sir!"
He turned with his whole body, winked a smile, and nodded a thank
you. "You are very kind." he said softly.
When Mary went to clean his table, she almost fainted. Under his
plate she found a business card and a note scribbled on a napkin.
Under the napkin was a one hundred dollar bill.
The note on the napkin read,
"Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself
too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the
secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those
who meet you."
The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where
she worked. This was the first time that she, or any of his
employees had ever seen him in person.
