I work at a popular fast food restaurant in a smallish rural town. The work is hard, but the people are awesome and management always has our backs. Unfortunately, I have a number of health problems that can go from zero to ICU in seconds. My coworkers know this and take great care of me with no judgment. I can’t begin to explain how utterly foreign and refreshing this is.

Several months ago, I had an episode. I was working in the drive-thru and vaguely remember suddenly not knowing what to do with the register, and then I was being gently guided to a chair while my coworker called an ambulance. My general manager stayed with me and told me I had nothing to apologize for; I was freaking out with guilt.

The hospital kept me for a few days, checked things out, adjusted some meds, and made a dozen follow-up appointments. They were very happy that everyone reacted so quickly because my blood pressure had spiked to dangerous levels. One nurse thought the machine was broken because it was so high.

People at work checked up on me and asked if I needed anything. Even though I was so sick, it felt amazing to be believed and taken care of. When I got back, they told me I suddenly went quiet and they rushed back to find me staring blankly at the screen. They jumped into action and gave my headset to a coworker.

The icing on the cake was that the customer I was speaking to called the store later — but not to complain! It was a lady from a local school and we were in the middle of a large, complex order. She said I was doing a great job and getting everything in and being so nice when the line went silent. She asked if I was okay! They didn’t give out details but said I had a medical issue and would be fine. She even asked them to send me her thanks and best wishes.

Having seen, been through, and read about so many horrible situations, this was mind-blowing. Good coworkers and good customers are out there.

This story is part of our end-of-year Feel Good roundup for 2022! This is the last story in the roundup, but we have plenty of others you might enjoy!

Read the next Feel Good 2022 story!

Read the Feel Good 2022 roundup!

I went to university in a small Cornish town. At this point, in the late 2000s, the town had very few international chains and almost no fast food restaurants. Eventually, though, a very famous fried chicken place came to our corner of Cornwall, and it caused a bit of a stir. There was excitement, indignation, anticipation, fear…

The strangest thing I saw was, a few days before the restaurant opened, a man standing in front of the windows looking in, stroking his tummy, and saying:

Man: “Oh, my God… Oh… my GOD… Ohh, myy Gooood…”

He was doing this over and over.

I hope he enjoyed his chicken.

A customer comes in and orders a bunch of combos. She orders three Pepsis and one Mountain Dew. I hand her the drinks, and she just looks at me like I’m an idiot.

Customer: “How am I supposed to know which one is the Mountain Dew?”

Me: *As politely as I can* “Mountain Dew is yellow.”

I point at the correspondingly colored cup.

Customer: “You think I’m stupid? Huh? So rude! I want to speak to your manager!”

And that’s the reason why we have to state which drink is which, no exceptions. I do this when serving a small coffee and a large soda for a nice couple.

Guy: “Seriously? Some customers can’t tell them apart?”

I blink and am about to speak when his girlfriend says:

Girl: “Don’t ask her that, babe. Look at her. She’s seen things…”

I work in a chicken fast food place. Two women come in and look around, and then they come to the counter to complain.

Customer #1: “Is this KFC?”

Me: “No, ma’am.”

Customer #1: “Well, why not?!”

Me: “Because… this is a Popeyes?”

Customer #2: “Well, you should be a KFC!”

They then stand there and stare at me expectantly.

Customer #1: “Well?”

Me: “Well… what, ma’am?”

Customer #1: “What are you going to do about it?”

Me: “Give you a map to Kentucky?”

They were NOT amused, but I honestly didn’t know what else to say!

I work in a fast food place. My coworker and I both coordinate the drive-thru, me on the radio, her collecting the money. Our backs are to each other as I make the drinks during the order while she assembles the bag and/or collects the money from the customer, so we playfully call each other “butt buddies” because we bump butts all the time. We’re the faces of the [Fast Food Place] drive-thru.

I took an order for a customer who was having a problem while at the window. The problem was entirely my fault, as I didn’t completely put in their order before [Coworker] rang them up. This caused a lot of confusion, and [Coworker] was very apologetic to the customers, and to ME even. This was totally my fault, yet [Coworker] was getting reamed by these customers for being “a stupid ‘bout to lose yo job b****”. It felt very not-from-a-progressive-or-accepting-place.

While they continued to scowl at her, they looked at me and handed me a fifty — a FIFTY!

Customer: “Don’t you go splitting that tip with her!”

Enter malicious compliance as I handed the fifty directly to [Coworker] as they drove away looking. Best and most indescribable expression ever.

[Coworker] kept pushing to give me twenty at least.

Me: “No way. You earned this one.”