(I am working overnight at a gas station when a lady comes in looking very stressed out.)

Me: “Hi, how are you?”

Customer: “I’ve been better. I need gas and I’m hoping my cards work.”

(She places two credit cards and a debit card on the counter.)

Me: *looking at the cards* “You had $20 on pump 3, right?”

Customer: “Yes.”

(At this point, I pull my wallet out and pay for her gas.)

Customer: *tearing up* “Why did you do that?”

Me: “I’ve been in your shoes and it sucks, so I like to help out whenever I can.”

Customer: *struggling to hold back tears* “Thank you so, so much. I promise to pay you back!”

Me: “Don’t worry about it. Please enjoy the rest of your evening!”

(A few days later, she came back in trying her hardest to repay the money, but I wouldn’t take it. She comes in every night to talk to me, so I made a new friend!)

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(The theater I work at is cheap; the tickets are roughly half-price of the regular theaters. We get a lot of families, children and seniors, but have recently had a rash of extremely rude children. I’m working concession when a young boy—about 7 years old—comes up with his Mother. He takes a long time reviewing the menu and prices, so I ask him if I can help.)

Boy: “I need to buy snacks, please. I have $9.”

Me: “$9 is a great amount! Let’s see what we can get for you.”

Boy: “Hmmm. May I have a water, please?”

Me: “Of course, but if you’d like, I could sell you a cup instead. The water is $2.50; the cup is $0.25 and you can refill it as much as you’d like.”

(He agrees to get the ice cup, and starts counting his money on the counter.)

Boy: “Ma’am? Thank you for your suggestion about the cup!”

(Stunned that this small child is so polite and well-spoken, I turn around to see if his mom is coaching him. She’s not.)

Me: “You’re very welcome, young man! What else may I get for you?”

(The boy thinks a little at this point, looking at the candy case.)

Boy: “Every month I take my mom on a date. I already took her to dinner, then we got ice cream, and now I’m taking her to a movie! I need to make sure I treat her right!”

Me: “That’s so thoughtful! You are a wonderful son, and a very polite young man!”

Boy: “I love my mom. She’s the best!” *smiles*

(Moved by his thoughtfulness, his manners, and his absolutely charming smile, I decide to help him out a bit.)

Me: “Okay, here you are: your cup, a popcorn and a candy. It’ll be $3.25.”

Boy: *confused look* “Okay?”

(He hands me $4 after I assure him that his total is $3.25, so I start ringing him up.)

Boy: “Ma’am? Can you keep the change for yourself as a tip?”

(My heart melts at this. I did keep the change, but I put it toward the remaining $3.25 I hadn’t charged him, and then covered the rest out of my own pocket. He thanked me again and walked off hand-in-hand with his mom. All of the employees were tickled to see this little boy on his ‘date’ with Mom, and were very glad we were able help by paying for part of his concession but also get to let him feel like a grown-up by paying for part of his snacks. Later, as he’s leaving, I see him putting his trash into the can in the lobby. He sees me and begins to wave.)

Boy: *waving* “Have a very good night!”

(Two older women have come in to see a popular, R-rated film. They are quite giddy and cheerful.)

Me: “Hi, what can I do for you today?”

Customer #1: “Two senior tickets for [film], please!”

Customer #2: “I’m paying! Don’t let her pay, it’s her birthday!”

Customer #1: “No, I’ve got it!”

Customer #2: *moves between her friend and me* “No, I’m paying!” *she pays* “Don’t mind us, we’ve just escaped from the nursing home.”

Customer #1: “Don’t tell our kids we’re here!”

(I smile, and they go to their movie. An hour and a half later, I see them walking out, quiet and looking stunned.)

Customer #1: “We are not telling our kids we saw that!”

(I work part-time at a store that sells pools, hot tubs, and other leisure items.)

Me: “Will that be everything today?”

Customer: “Yes, miss. What’s the damage?”

Me: “That’ll be $50.05, sir.”

(The customer opens his wallet and hands me a $50 bill.)

Customer: “I’m sorry, but I only have the $50. I left my coin-purse at home today. Is that okay?”

Me: “Not a problem, sir. I’m sure I’ve got a nickel in my purse, somewhere.”

(I get a coworker to watch my till while I grab my purse from the staff room and try to find a nickel. I grab one, put it in the drawer, and cash the customer out; he thanks me and leaves the store, but a few hours later, my boss pages me to call his office immediately.)

Me: “You rang, sir?”

Boss: “Yes. Can you come to the front of the store, please? There’s someone who wants to speak with you.”

(When I reach the storefront, the same customer is standing at the counter. He’s holding a beautiful, red rose, which he gives to me—along with a nickel!)

Me: “T…thank you, sir. You know, you didn’t have to do this!”

Customer: “Yes, miss. I did. You went above and beyond your job-description to help someone in need, and that’s customer service!”

Me: *trying not to cry by this point* “Thank you so much, sir! Have a nice day!”

Customer: “And you as well, young lady!”

(After he left the store, my boss sent him a $50 gift-card, for ‘treating our staff like human beings’. It’s been 10 years since then, but I’ll never forget that customer for as long as I live. To this day, his kindness reminds me that there is still good in this world!)

(My five-year-old son has received a serious injury to his eye. After a pediatrician recommends us to an eye doctor, we are referred to a specialist that works out of a university two hours away from home.)

Nurse: “These are all the contact numbers you should need. I also went online for some directions, and called ahead to let them know it should only be a few hours.”

Son: “I don’t want to.”

Nurse: “What’s the matter?”

Son: *visibly getting upset* “I’m scared.”

Nurse: “But you’ve been so brave this whole time! How about this: if you go see the new doctor, I’ll give you my phone number and you can call me if you get too upset, okay?”

(The nurse writes down her work extension and cell phone number on a piece of paper and adds it to my paperwork, insisting that I feel free to call if I have any problems or questions. My son stays calm all the way to the university and through the appointment with the specialist until we’re told he’s going to need surgery. Crying and upset, he begs me to call the nurse from the clinic.)

Me: *on the phone* “I’m so sorry to bother you, I know you’re still working, but he’s really upset and asked to talk to you.”

(I put the phone on speakerphone so my son, crying on the exam table, can hear.)

Nurse: “Hey, buddy! What’s wrong?”

Son: *crying* “The doctor here wants to give me surgery!”

Nurse: “There’s nothing wrong with that. It’ll make your eye all better. You’ll be able to see again, like we talked about.”

Son: “But I’m scared! It’s going to hurt!”

Nurse: “Of course it’s not going to hurt. That nice doctor wouldn’t hurt you!”

Son: “Have you been given surgeries?”

Nurse: “Yeah, kiddo, a few.”

Son: “And you came back to life?”

Nurse: “Every single time.”

Son: “Promise?”

Nurse: “Swear.”

(My son has calmed down considerably throughout the conversation, and there’s not a dry eye in the room.)

Son: “Okay…”

Nurse: “See? I knew you were brave.”

Son: “Thank you! Love you!”

Nurse: *laughing* “Love you, too.”

(I thanked the nurse a thousand times, and she insisted I call her ASAP to let her know how the surgery went. Later that day, she texted us a picture of herself and her family with a ‘GET WELL SOON’ sign they made for my son!)

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