Another Birthday Gift

(I am the customer in this story. I am hosting a small party for my 17th birthday at a very popular fast food joint. We are almost 15 people, and our order is really complicated since everyone wants a different kind of meal with different drinks. As such, the cashier has a tough time with my order but she is extremely patient and makes sure to take the order correctly. I pay for my order and take the numerous trays to the table, helped by friends. By this point I am very flustered too, since my friends are complaining about not getting the right drinks, etc. By the time I have made sure everyone has the right food, I realise I forgot to buy food for myself. Extremely annoyed, I go back to the counter.)

Cashier: “Namaste! How may I help you, ma’am?”

Me: “I forgot to buy food for myself in all that confusion. I’ll have a burger meal.”

Cashier: “Sure! Your total is [total].”

(I pay, take my tray, and start walking towards the table when I realise I forgot to get ketchup. By this point I am so frustrated that I storm to the condiments bar and put my tray there. I obviously aren’t paying much attention, because the entire tray falls down along with the food. There are fries and drink everywhere on the floor. I have had enough. I go and sit at my table with a huff.)

Friend #1: “Where’s your food, [My Name]?”

Me: “I dropped it, and now I’m not going to the counter again.”

Friend #2: “Look, [My Name], the cashier is calling for you.”

(Sure enough, I turn back and saw that the cashier is gesturing to me to come to the counter. I go over, and she hands me a tray with a burger, fries, and a drink.)

Me: “But I dropped my—”

Cashier: “Take this; it’s on the house.”

(I thanked her and went back to the table. Whoever you are, random kind lady, you made my day! Or rather, my birthday!)