Day Off
A hardworking man who frequently does 12-hour shifts, Karl Baker was so glad to have a day off. He wanted to simply unwind for the day and forget work for a while.
He planned to sleep in, eat outside, take a stroll outdoors, and end the day happily in front of his TV with his gold old drink in hand. However, not everything went to plan for this man despite his best efforts for a well-deserved day off.
Enjoying a Slow Morning
Baker’s day off started with his dog jumping on his bed. Beaming with energy, his dog’s jump made him realize it was about midday already. He quickly changed his clothes, enjoyed a nice cup of warm coffee, and pondered where to go for a little fancy brunch.
Now with a place in mind, he hopped into his car and drove to the diner he liked. It was a new place for him on the outskirts of town. His excitement for a new place, unfortunately, would later turn into regret.
Standing in Line Patiently
He felt stares filled with disdain from the staff in the diner. A minute of feeling disrespected felt like an hour for Baker. Professionally, his work commanded mutual respect from people and he never experienced being treated any other way.
No one in the diner knew who Baker was. Upon reaching the diner, he patiently waited in line. Obviously hungry, he read the menu on the wall while waited for his turn. He waited for quite some time but never lost his cool to wait for his turn to be served.
Had Trouble Picking Food
After carefully reading the menu, he ended up deciding between two good dishes, although a man with many positive attributes, Baker apparently had a thing of being picky with what he eats.
Standing in line for 45 minutes is fine for him as long as he gets what he wants. He later realized he was wrong to have wasted his precious time in line.
Patience and Hunger
Having to wait for 45 minutes to be served is certainly out of the ordinary. Even if it was the best food in town, nobody should wait that long. Baker, always known to be patient, decided to wait. However, he got aggravated out as his hunger grew. His limit was about to be tested.
When his turn came after a long wait, his excitement was immeasurable and he thought he could finally order. What happened next left him dumbfounded with disbelief. What could have gone wrong?
Unusual Attitude
Although now exhausted with hunger, Baker still politely greeted the cashier. However, he was met with a greeting filled with a look of impatience and annoyance. He could tell the lady was not in the mood, all the while chewing a piece of gum in front of him.
Shrugging off the initial disrespect, he continued to be calm and started to order his food. Back in his mind, he thought the lady must have had a rough day as anyone may have. He decided to let it pass.
Very Puzzled
Shrugging off the initial disrespect, he continued to be calm and started to order his food. Back in his mind, he thought the lady must have had a rough day as anyone may have. He decided to let it pass.
But once again, he was told it was not available to be ordered. Now obviously more confused, Baker decided to try his third choice from the menu. Now with a roll in her eyes, she told him again his third choice was not available.
Advertising and Attitude Issues
This time, Baker’s disappointment grew bigger. Anyone in his shoes would feel the same after waiting in line for almost an hour. All the specials for the day outlined on the chalkboard did not seem available for ordering.
In his mind, he definitely would not have wasted time if he knew it was the case. Her rude dealing with him only aggravated the situation. Baker tried to stop an outburst from happening and instead asked what possible options he can get that were not in the chalkboard menu.
Too Many Buttons Pushed
Baker was not expecting the reaction he got from the cashier after stating his last question. Her eyes rolled again followed by a blank stare. She made him feel that he just asked a very foolish question. Baker then thought - enough - that was it.
He could not accept any of the rude behavior and service anymore. He must say something. Just as he was about to say something, the lady rudely told him that if he was not planning to order, he must leave.
Where Is the Manager?
Still exuding a calm approach, he asked the cashier if he could speak to the manager. Right away, she stepped back and yelled out to be heard from the back kitchen.
She then looked back at Baker with eyes filled with indifference. A woman came out and approached him. As she looked at him and the rest of the line, she asked Baker what the issue was and that he was holding up the line.
Attitude in the Diner
Out of nowhere, a female cook came out and approached them. She told the manager that she is not willing to serve him while giving Baker a look. It was obviously not a proper attitude and at that time, Baker was hoping to hear from the manager to take some action.
Instead, she started to laugh in front of him. Although bombarded with unpleasantries, Baker tried his best to act calmly. He advised them to be courteous to customers, otherwise, they will face the consequences.
The Tension Rises
Although he had spoken his part calmly, Baker also had the feeling that everything he just said will be in vain based on their attitude. They certainly did not react kindly to his recommendation. The manager told him that they understood things were hard for him today but that was how life is.
She asked him to exit the diner and that they do not serve people like him. Baker asked her what she meant by that. The words rang loudly in his ears.
Explain Yourself
Baker’s morning already had so much tension in it despite his plan for a calm day. He cannot be the nice guy any longer. Now switching to a more commanding persona full of authority, he again explained his side and why he is conversing with her.
He tried to emphasize he was simply trying to explain the situation for the better. Again, he asked what he meant by “men like him”. What the manager did next only made things clearer for Baker as to what to do next.
Rudeness
The manager’s face remained cold and was stern to respond that she did not need to explain herself to anyone. She demanded him to go out of the diner before causing more trouble. Baker’s blood was clearly boiling at this point.
Being disrespected and looked down on are certainly some of the things he was not used to and will never get used to. He knew for himself that no one should be treated the way the diner staff was treating him at that moment.
Getting the People’s Attention
It was obvious how clueless the diner staff were as to who he was and what authority he legally possess. Some days he even thought about walking around in civilian to see how people would interact with him. That day in the diner, he got the worst possible interaction he never dreamed of.
Talking level-headed was clearly out of the question for the manager. The tension got the attention of many people in the diner. They started to stare at them and wonder.
Gaze From Strangers
As the tension continued, Baker started to notice the people in the diner and how they were looking at him. Their eyes and ears were now glued at them. Realizing the attention, he felt his face grew red from such unwanted attention. At a glance, he could not spot any acquaintance from the group.
Somehow deep in his mind, he would have wanted someone to know him and perhaps help avoid the situation. If somebody knew him, he knew he would not get this rude treatment.
Leaving With a Plan
Baker had a feeling that he would win the argument at the time so he backed off but not without a plan. He felt mortified by the rude treatment he just got. He had to settle it at some point and get justice.
Baker decided to forget it for now and get back to it tomorrow during his working hours. He thought he would go back in uniform to see how they would react. Will they treat him differently with his uniform on?
Going Back
The following day, Baker had to go back to work and wear his usual chief of police uniform on. He had a lot to do that day and one of them was heading back to the diner. He promised to himself, after all, to get back to that place and hopefully settle things one and of all.
He was eager to enter the diner in his uniform and make them realize they made a mistake by mistreating civilian people. Will he be successful? Read on.
Authority Appears
After responding to a call out in the field, Baker thought of dropping by in the diner. He parked his cruiser right outside the diner and pushed the doors of the place. Upon entering the diner, he was exuding a stern aura filled with authority.
He got the attention of many people in the diner from the moment he entered. After all, he stood tall literally and figuratively. He was a tall and broad man and worn a uniform exuding a great deal of authority.
Immediate Change in Treatment
This time around, all the gaze around him was filled with respect and nothing similar to yesterday. He saw smiles towards him. He could even spot smiles in the faces of the very people who were rude to him yesterday. The cashier, in particular, gave him a wide smile and was extremely attentive.
It was not long before she slowly recognized his face. Her smile now slowly faded as well. Without the usual greeting like yesterday, he immediately asked for the manager.
Another Round
Without wasting a second, the cashier yelled out for the manager from the back kitchen door. However, it now appeared to Baker that the cashier was slightly more mindful in her manners. While waiting, Baker’s posture was that of the usual respectable busy cop on the field.
He had one hand resting on his waist belt while the other hanging on to a radio device. His radio bleeped from updates from his co-officers while waiting for the manager to appear. Baker was keen to have another round of conversation with the manager.
Apologies and Agreements
That following day, a different manager was on duty. Still, Baker talked to her and explained what happened the other day thoroughly. Hearing it, the manager was filled with distress and quickly apologise. To settle things, she guaranteed that an internal investigation will be conducted to check on the activities of the other manager.
It was not long before the story reached social media. It was only a matter of time before the diner was forced to make a statement regarding the issue of poor customer handling. They had to respond before things go out of control.
A Spokesperson’s Worst Nightmare
Although it certainly can affect the image of the diner, the place had to release an honest statement. Their spokesperson did not deny anything about the issue and stated that everything occurred as per the description of Officer Baker.
The management team of the diner was so unhappy about the mistreatment that has had happened particularly towards an officer of the law. They vowed to dig deeper on it and arrive into sound changed for the diner. Would that suffice though to change things in the diner?
A Public Statement
After the release of the diner’s official statement, many comments about the issue popped out on social media included. A certain reader commented that such treatment warranted legal action and can even sue for $150,000. The reader found it similar to the discrimination received by a gay couple when they ordered a wedding cake in Oregon.
A gay couple was refused from purchasing a cake because of their identities. They found it to be a form of discrimination which is unacceptable. Many thought more legal action should have taken place.
Minimize Damage
The story circulated on social media to a massive extent that is affected their reputation to a great degree. The diner’s management team continued to reach out to the police officer to hopefully achieve a better outcome on both sides.
They tried to tell the public they are doing their best to reach out but still did not get a hold of the officer just yet. It continued to speed on Twitter and Facebook thereby adding more angry people to the issue.
More Comments
The story gained more comments and reactions from more readers this time. Many thought that such treatment is considered a breach of customer’s rights and that the officer has every right to sue for $150,000. As varied as the readers are, some people thought of it in a more practical view.
Someone commented that if he was a police officer, he would be less concerned about the anti-police issue but more about someone secretly harboring resentment and dealing with their food.
Making It Right
Despite the diner’s best efforts, the damage has been done to its reputation. Alexandra Police Union Representative Pete Feltham appreciated their cooperation in the matter and understood their sincere desire to make things right. They even hang posters to show their support for cops outside their diner.
Baker handled the heated incident perfectly. He remained level-headed the whole time. What was surprising was it occurred in a locality where harmonious relationships between residents and local businesses are known to exist supposedly.
Rumors About a Boycott
Both sides of the argument tried to neutralize the increasingly heated situation. However, as mentioned damage has already spread. The diner’s Facebook page was flooded with angry comments. Rumors about a permanent boycott even spread on social media and are inviting other people to do the same.
It became so chaotic that there were even rumors about people planning to steal from the diner because of the incident. Baker, on the other hand, again made his side of the things clear.
Baker’s Voice
Baker heard about the angry voices circulating around. He then decided to make himself clear on his side of the issue. He is not supporting any form of boycott towards the diner and neither will he support any crime like stealing from the diner due to such hatred out of the incident.
“Cancel culture” is not something he will support. He encouraged people to rise above the situation and claims that two wrong things will not make a right thing happen.
Second Statement
Without a doubt, the diner received a massive backlash from many people online and offline because of the said incident. However, they focused to do better on their side instead. Less than a week after their first statement, they made another public announcement according to The Washington Post.
Their new statement claimed that the actions and views of the involved individuals were totally inexcusable and certainly do not reflect those of the rest of the group in their Duke Street location.
Termination of Employment
The newly released statement also claimed that after careful investigation, the two staff involved were found to be at fault and thus immediately terminated. They continued to emphasize how they value their patrons particularly officers of the law.
Their relationship with the local Alexandria Police Department over the past couple of years is something they intend to preserve. They respect their customers and would gladly change for the better.
Right What Was Wrong
The diner’s team including the night manager did all in their power to track the policeman down to make things right. The rude behavior of three of their staff was totally unacceptable and far different from what the rest of the team values and upholds. They treat civilians and law enforcement alike.
This story even reached the Alexandria Mayor, Allison Silberberg who acknowledged the big effort done by the diner’s team to fully make things right. What about the side of the police force? How did they feel about the whole situation?
Times of Unpredictability
When asked about their initial response about the whole situation that happened in the diner, the police force head was honest to admit that anger came in first. They explained that recent times have been very challenging and having to add something of that nature is unnecessary.
After anger sets in, a sense of trying to calm down follows. A similar scenario has been witnessed by a waitress and it made her rise up by stepping in to do the right thing.
Waitress Suspicious After Customer Asks to See Her in Private, Then She Sees the Bill and Realizes Why
After anger sets in, a sense of trying to calm down follows. A similar scenario has been witnessed by a waitress and it made her rise up by stepping in to do the right thing.
The holiday season was among them and the place was teeming with customers, so she was having a hard time keeping up. The tables filled up as quickly as they emptied and Ashley had to juggle several tables all at once to fulfill the orders.
From Table to Table
As Ashley made her way to the bar, another group of students sat at one table, whooping and jeering before their first round of drinks arrived, which they chugged down in a flash.
She noticed some movement out of the corner of her eye but did not turn to have a proper look. Carlos Carmo, her manager, also noticed the group and decided to pay more attention.
Thing Get Uncomfortable
Ashley walked up to their table to take their orders and to try and make them feel more at home. But the men’s eyes bore into her every time she came to take an order from them.
She could feel the heat of their eyes on her whenever she went to the table and the men ordered more rounds. Even with her experience, their behavior still made her a little uncomfortable. The table would fall into silence whenever she approached. However, it was only after she’d handed their bill that she finally got a hint about their hidden motivations, something she wouldn’t guess in a million years.
Totally Unprepared
Part of Ashley’s job was the inevitable fact that she was always going to have to deal with both good and bad customers. Some of them were outright rude and abrasive and didn’t even need a trigger to get worked up and mean.
But despite all of this, Ashley was dedicated to her job, a model employee who gave her all to provide a great experience for the guests. However, nothing prepared her for the kind of occurrence that was about to happen. The men had declined to pay their bill.
Back to the Start
Ashley was relieved as soon as she’d brought the men their check. She was almost getting off her shift and she couldn’t wait to get home and get some rest before her next shift the following day.
But she was yet to make it out of the woods because, to her astonishment, the men asked her to do something else. They were clearly onto something and Ashley was blissfully unaware.
Taunts
One of the men pinned the folder right below his elbows, with the bill inside, and then handed it over to her. But as Ashley moved to receive it, the man held onto it and proceeded to look her up and down.
She felt his eyes scanning the length of her body before finally landing on her own eyes. He then grabbed the bill and held it away from her, taunting her and willing her to get it.
Confused
All the while the man never took his eyes away from her. He suddenly pushed back his chair, ready to get up and like a ringleader, all the other men followed suit.
The ringleader then swung his head to look over his shoulder and fixed his look at the door right behind him. And then it dawned on Ashley with a chill that the man wanted her to follow him into the room.
Terrified
Ashley glared at the man in dense confusion but he didn’t seem to flinch and wanted her to go into the bathroom. He leaned in and said something she didn’t quite catch due to the loud music.
He repeated the same thing and though she still didn’t hear him clearly, she could make out what he wanted. The men wanted to settle the bill in private. Ashley stirred as she considered their request, terrified by what was an unusual request.
Suspicions
As her mind ran circles at what she had just heard, she scanned the room for her manager. Surely, there wasn’t any reason for these guests to want to settle their bill in private. Or was there?
As her mind ran circles at what she had just heard, she scanned the room for her manager. Surely, there wasn’t any reason for these guests to want to settle their bill in private. Or was there?
Mixed Feelings
Ashley wasn’t quite a stranger to advances from guests. She knew too well that she was attractive, fit, and young and clients often tried to get to her. The man who handed over the bill was also a good-looking guy, she noticed.
But she knew better than to try and entertain such a proposal. She finally made a decision; she wasn’t going to head into the back room as the men had requested.
Some Help Please
Luckily, Carlos, her manager, picked up on her wordless shouts for help and immediately stopped what he was doing to go help her out.
He had a bad feeling that the night would not end nicely and he balked as soon as Ashley revealed the men’s request. He calmed her down and informed her that he was going to deal with it.
The Takeover
Carlos’ first thought was that the men were somewhat dissatisfied with the kind of service they had received. Whatever the problem was, he just hoped it wasn’t going to get out of hand.
He headed for the back room all the same, with Ashley in tow, and finally arrived at the exact spot the men wanted them. The man then handed him the bill and he was shocked.
At First
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. There was a five, followed by two zeros, which didn’t make sense because their bill was $112. They’d either made a mistake or they were intentionally leaving behind $500 tip.
He thanked them anyway on behalf of Ashley, of course. But then the men asked him to have another look at the bill.
An Additional Zero
When Carlos looked at the bill again, it was as if it had changed since he last glanced at it a few seconds before. “I saw another zero,” he’d later say in an interview. He turned to look at the men, dumbfounded and confused. When Ashley saw the tip she burst into tears and couldn’t hold herself together.
She gave each of them a tight hug as soon as she’d regained her composure. A $500 tip was a lot but within the reach of the usual amount of tips. But $5,000? That was one for the history books.
Tips For Jesus
Ashley and her manager Carlos were left to wonder just who these mystery men were and how they had so much cash to give. What was the reason for their rare act of generosity to the Seagrape Café staff?
But as it turned out, the men belonged to a group called “Tips for Jesus,” and their mission was to do “The Lord’s work, one tip at a time.”
Regular Customer
As it turned out, these men were for real and such a group actually exists. Christopher Nardelli, the restaurant’s owner confirmed that he knew the said customer. In the four years he’d owned the restaurant, he discovered that the man lived in the area and that he came to the bar a few times each month.
His favorite item on the menu was the gumbo, which comes with an andouille and chicken base with a dark roux. He would often wash it down with an Old Chub Scotch Ale.
Food Pairings
Every now and then, Christopher, together with the chef James Turner, would shoot out emails about the food pairings and beer selections. The restaurant wanted to let their clients know what was going on.
In fact, James had personally emailed this particular man, asking him to let the restaurant know when he planned to drop in so they could whip up the gumbo just the way he liked it.
Cleared The Bill
When they finished their food and drinks, they asked for a bill which they proceeded to pay and depart soon after. No one noticed something unusual about their bill.
It was only later on when the guest had left the restaurant that bartender Laura Dally noticed a bill on the table. He was a regular client who licked his gumbo and generally tips handsomely. But what he did shocked everyone at the restaurant.
The First Time
Members of staff exchanged puzzled looks when they learned that someone had left such a huge tip for a $93 bill. Laura picked it up of course, but towards the end when the restaurant was just about to close down.
Everyone was already closing and cleaning up. She took one look at the bill and she knew she had to find Chris right away.
Couldn’t Believe It
Inside the bill was a tip of $2,000, for a bill of $93. “I was in an utter daze,” she explained. “I was completely speechless. I had to do a double-take,” Laura would later explain.
Every member of staff was stunned. Laura went looking for her boss and when she found him the first words out of her mouth were, “we need to talk.”
Utterly Shocked
When they got to his office, Laura showed him the receipt. Chris took one look at the receipt and froze.
“I didn’t know what to say,” Chris would later say. “This is the kind of stuff you see in the restaurant business that happens to some guy in the Midwest or the West Coast.” You think, who are these people who give these extraordinarily generous tips that just made a server or bartender’s day? And then, sure enough, it happened to us,” he explained.
A Thank You Note
The next day, Chris sent the man a “thank you” email and as part of his response, he got an explanation for his magnanimous gesture the previous day. “He said he’s very happy with what we’ve built and that he’s proud to be a customer,” Chris explained.
The patron proceeded to inform him that he also wanted to express his gratitude. “I’m very happy to express my gratitude in that way,” he said.
Plans
Chris, Laura and James all had plans for their sudden wealth. They all said they planned to use it wisely, with Chris revealing that he intended to use it to clear a monthly day-care bill for his toddler.
James wanted to spend the money on his family while 29-year-old Laura planned to pay for a summer class at Montgomery College. She’s currently undertaking occupational therapy training.
First Time
According to Chris, it’s quite flattering and incredibly nice to see somebody appreciate what they do at the restaurant. “It’s hard to believe anyone deserves a tip like that,” he said. Laura had been working in the industry for the past 10 years as a hostess, server, and bartender and had never seen anything like that before.
“Never! Never have I gotten a tip this big. Never,” Laura said. And this is what the note on the bill said; “Thank you for the Gumbo!”
Giving Back
As it turned out later, the mystery tippers had actually been traveling the country leaving huge tips to hardworking restaurant staff. At the time, they’d already left a whopping $11,500 in tips in Manhattan alone.
The group began to trend all over social media as people across the nation stepped forward to share their experiences with them. A bartender confirmed how she had received a $1,000 tip for a $85 bill.
Paying It Forward
As the reality of her good luck began to sink it, Ashley knew deep down that the right thing to do was to pay it forward. So she went ahead and bought toys at the local toy store and donated them to the toy drive known as AI’s Angels.
She was thankful for what she had received but then she didn’t want to keep all the money to herself. After all, this wasn’t the first time she would be helping people in need.
Pure Kindness
Ashley had, in fact, been planning to purchase toys for the toy drive. “I’ve been trying to gather toys at my office. Toys, blankets,” she revealed. So the handsome tip she’d received from the “Tips for Jesus” group was absolutely spot on in terms of timing.
The men couldn’t have known this at the time because they were simply rewarding her hard work. It was probably good old karma at work and perhaps a validation of the fact that kindness begets kindness.