Founded On Good Deeds

(I work in a small branch of a national discount store. I’m a manager, so I’m not always running a register. At the time, I am on a register so my cashier can take a break. A man comes up to the registers, looking concerned about something. I brace myself for a complaint.)

Customer: “Can I talk to you for a second?”

Me: “Sure. What can I do for you?”

Customer: “Well, about ten years ago, I lost the screw on my glasses. I looked everywhere for it, but I couldn’t find it. Then one day, I did something nice for someone. And when I got home, I found the screw.”

(He pauses and seems to be waiting for a response.)

Me: “Wow, that’s awesome.”

Customer: “Recently I lost something precious to me. So I’m going to do something nice in the hopes that it will come back to me. So this is for you.”

(He hands me a gift card for a different store nearby.)

Me: “Really? Thank you! I hope everything works out and you find what you’re looking for.”

Customer: “Me, too.”

(I took that gift card and bought doughnuts for my coworkers. I keep hoping he’ll come back in the store and tell me if he found whatever he was looking for. I hope he did!)

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