I’m working in a convenience store. A bunch of teens come into the store, stare at the wall of vape sticks and flavor packs, and then head outside without buying anything. A guy pulls in and gets some gas, and they approach him. They talk for a moment, and then the guy comes in to pay for his gas.

Customer: “Also let me get one of those — what was it — cherry vape stick things.”

Me: “I can’t sell that to you, sir.”

Customer: “I’m over twenty-one!”

Me: “Sir, I have reason to believe you’re buying for those teenagers out there.”

Customer: “Well, duh! Do I look like I smoke—” *reads the label* “—Cherry Pop Surprise vape sticks?!”

Me: “Have a good night, sir.”

We had a customer who shoplifted from us enough times that we caught it on camera. As a result, the customer got banned from the store, and a sign was placed near the checkout with the camera footage screen capture of him stealing, saying, “BANNED!

I spot the customer coming back in one day, and I shout at him immediately.

Me: “Leave now! You’re banned!”

Customer: “What the h***?! You can’t ban me!”

Me: “You’ve stolen from us before. You’re no longer allowed to shop here.”

Customer: “Oh, yeah? Prove it!”

I point to the “BANNED” sign behind me.

Customer: “That wasn’t me! That guy has a beard!”

Me: “But you both have the same arm tattoo.”

Customer: “People can have the same tattoo!”

Me: “The same three arm tattoos in the same three places?”

Customer: “You must think you’re so smart!”

Me: “It doesn’t take much to outsmart some, sir.”

Our area experienced an unusually early major snowstorm one year. The amount of snow and ice on the wires knocked out the power at the convenience store where I worked. There was no electricity or heat in the store, so we were unable to ring up sales or dispense gas.

Crazily, employees were still required to work their shifts even though the place was freezing.

I was very much surprised when our regular customers (and some people that live nearby) took care of us. They brought us coffee and cocoa, blankets, sweatshirts, food, and other things. The power outage lasted several days, and these people kindly took care of us the whole time.

Our gas station is self-serve, and the customer tells me to fill up his tank to full. I am checking him out at the register when he starts complaining.

Customer: “That’s way too much! How much gas did you put in?”

Me: “We put in about 23 gallons, sir.”

Customer: “You couldn’t have put that much fuel in because my tank is only 23 gallons and I already had a bit of fuel in there!”

Me: “The fuel tank size can vary from what is listed, sir.”

Customer: “No! You’re conning me! I shouldn’t have to pay for that fuel!”

Me: “If you weren’t expecting us to fill you up that much, sir, I can offer a small discount? Next time it might be best to specify an amount instead of just asking us to fill the tank all the way.”

Customer: “No, no way! You’re conning me! I won’t pay!”

Me: “Sir, we will have to get the police involved if you try to leave without paying.”

He starts kicking off, trying to convince our other customers that we are con artists. In the end, my manager tells him to leave as he is taking up a space and we have a line of cars waiting. He reported him to the police as soon as he left.

I work in an upholstery factory located on a very busy main road. Shop floor staff start at 7 AM and work until 4:30 PM, four days a week, with a half-day on Fridays finishing at 11 AM. On those first four days, we have two fifteen-minute breaks and a half-hour for dinner. As you can imagine, after getting up that early and working basically nonstop for three hours, breakfast is something of a necessity.

Unfortunately, the nearest town is a ten-minute drive away, and at the time of this story, I am an apprentice, with no car or driver’s license.

As a result, the petrol station across the road, which has a little branch of a certain well-known bakery inside, was a hotspot for us factory workers come the first break.

I got that breakfast routine down to an art: two minutes walk across the road, five minutes to queue, order, and pay, three minutes back so as not to spill my fresh coffee, and five minutes to sit and eat my well-deserved bacon roll.

On this particular day, something went slightly wrong before break, making me slightly late out, and when it comes time to pay, I realise that my debit card is not in my wallet, but in my phone case, which is back in the factory across the road, and I have no cash since I don’t like to carry it.

I deliberate and panic, then, with a heavy and hungry heart, apologise to the staff for the inconvenience, and turn to abandon my food. Then I hear this from a greying man in the queue behind me:

Customer: “How much is it?”

Staff: “[Nominal amount].”

I turn as I realise what’s about to happen, and do my best to be polite, since there’s little to no chance of me seeing this kind stranger ever again to return the favour.

Me: “Oh, it’s fine, honestly—”

Too late. He’s counted his change and covered my order before I can finish my sentence, and I’m left to stutter out a meek “thank you” as he waves a hand to dismiss me and make his own order.

I savoured every bite of that bacon roll, when I got back, and ever since then, I try to pay such kindness forward wherever I can.

It’s been over a year now and I haven’t seen that man again, but if this story ever reaches you, sir, know that your simple kindness has made a lasting impact on me, and made me a kinder person as a result.

Related:
With Great Bacon, Comes Great Responsibility, Part 24
With Great Bacon, Comes Great Responsibility, Part 23
With Great Bacon, Comes Great Responsibility, Part 22 
With Great Bacon, Comes Great Responsibility, Part 21
With Great Bacon, Comes Great Responsibility, Part 20