(I’m hanging out at an arcade at the end of a roller coaster when I come across a sandwich bag full of quarters forgotten at a machine. I look around, but no one is nearby and no one is watching them. I pick them up, and when no one reacts, I bring them to the counter.)

Me: “Hi. Someone left their bag of quarters behind.”

Employee: “Oh, wow. Thanks for turning this in!”

Me: “No problem.”

(I know that at least two employees have to log any found money, so I leave him to get his partner as I head to the next attraction. When I’m on the other side of the esplanade outside, I hear someone calling.)

Employee: “Miss! Miss!”

(I look around, and see the man I handed the quarters to running towards me.)

Me: “What? Sorry, is something wrong?”

Employee: “No, I just wanted to offer you a reward for turning in the money. It was a pretty full bag, after all.”

(He takes out a voucher park employees have that can get you a free soda, ice cream, or get to the head of one line.)

Me: “Um, that won’t be necessary…”

Employee: “No, I insist.”

Me: “Then I suppose I wouldn’t say no to a soda.”

Employee: “Consider it done.”

Me: “Thanks.”

(He fills out and signs the voucher and goes back. I exchange it at the nearest ice cart. I was really impressed with what he did. Not only rewarding someone for simply not stealing/ignoring lost money, but for him to chase me down when I’d already left instead of shrugging and moving on shows just how dedicated he was to fulfilling the park’s values of customer service.)

(I have just finished my shift as a cashier when my ride calls to say she’ll be an hour or two late. I’d had minor foot surgery the day before and I’m in a lot of pain so I find some nearby grass to sit on while I wait. A truck drives by, then turns around and parks not far away. Two guys and a girl get out and walk over.)

Guy #1: “Hey, we saw you crying and had to come back. Are you okay?”

Me: *rubs my eyes, embarrassed* “Oh! Uh, yeah. My foot hurts and I can’t walk, and my ride is late. It’s no big deal.”

Girl: “We could give you a ride home if you want. Do you live nearby?”

Me: No, that’s okay. I don’t want my ride to worry about me. Thanks, though.

Guy #2: “Well, we can’t leave you here, so we’ll wait with you.”

(The three of them sit on the grass with me and start showing off their tattoos, talking about video games, and trying to make me laugh. When my ride finally calls to say she’s only a few minutes away, they wish me a better day and leave. I don’t think I even learned their names, but I’ll never forget their kindness.)

(I’m working as a barista on New Year’s Day. It’s incredibly busy and the line is almost to the door. Since New Year’s Eve obviously made everyone forget their manners, I’m pretty stressed out. Nonetheless, I try to smile and be friendly to each and every customer I get. I just finished serving a particularly difficult and unfriendly customer and turn to the next one, still smiling.)

Me: “Hi! What can I get for you today?”

Customer: “Hello! First, I’d like to wish you a very happy New Year and thank you for working today and being here for me!”

(Stunned, I thank him profusely.)

Customer: “And now I’d like [order], please.”

(I used some chocolate powder to draw a smiley onto his coffee. He laughed and wished me a great day before he left. That customer completely made my day in a very annoying shift – I was beaming for the rest of the day.)

This story is part of the New Year’s Eve roundup!

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(I’ve just finished and am setting off home. The road I take back home has no streetlights, is poorly maintained and has a lot of tight bends, so I wear a high-vis vest, as I’m on a moped. As I go around one particular tight bend I almost run straight into what looks like a shadow riding a bike: all black, even the bike. I pull in front of him and realise it is a young teenager cycling back home.)

Me: “Hey, buddy! Do you not have a high-vis?”

Teen: “Oh, hey! No, I don’t. Why?”

Me: “Because all I saw there was a floating shadow, mate. Hold on. I have a spare vest.”

(I dig into my bag to find my spare, realising I left it at home.)

Me: “Ah, sorry, mate. I’ve left my spare at home.”

Teen: “Thanks anyway, though.”

Me: “Hold on, mate.” *I take my own high vis off and offer it to him* “I can be seen a lot better than you can. Take mine.”

Teen: *in disbelief* “Wow, thanks, man! I’ve just been pulling into the hedges hoping cars don’t wing me!”

Me: “No worries, mate. They’ll see you now! Ride safe!

(I sped off and left him safer than he was.)

(At my workplace we have a lot of teddies given us to sell. We have placed them in a basket ready to be sold. A little girl, about 5 to 7, comes in along with her mother. The mother goes off to browse while the daughter walks over to the basket and picks each one up, one by one, hugging them and giving them a kiss.)

Me: “Excuse me, madam, what’s your daughter doing?”

(The mum called her daughter over towards us, she came over and the mum asked the girl to explain what she was doing.)

Mum: “Please tell the lady why you were hugging and kissing the cuddly toys?”

Little Girl: “I wanted to show them all the love till they went to another home, so they weren’t alone and feel unloved.”

(I almost cried at how cute and caring she was. The little girl bought two of the toys. As they were leaving her mum told me that she did it in every shop that had cuddly toys.)