(I am just turning 16. I am extremely introverted, terrified of public embarrassment, and going to a birthday dinner with my mother who is the exact opposite. The server comes to take our drink order…)

Mom: “IT’S HER BIRTHDAY!”

Server: “Oh? How old?”

Me: *shrinking into my seat somewhat* “… 16.”

Server: “Wonderful. I’ll put the drink order in and be right back.”

(The server leaves to do just that, I spend the whole time she’s gone terrified she’s going to bring everyone over. Instead, when she returns, it’s just her. She sits down in the booth next to me.)

Server: “I remember when I turned 16. My parents took me out for my birthday dinner and had everyone in the restaurant pulled over to sing happy birthday for me. It was the most mortifying experience of my life. I think at 16 you’re old enough to decide for yourself – do you want me to have everyone sing happy birthday for you? Because I will totally go get them if you want.”

Me: “Please, no.”

Server: “You got it. Happy birthday.”

(My mom just laughed at the whole exchange and didn’t press the issue, and the dinner was passed in peaceful quiet. While I can’t remember how much my mom tipped her, I do know it was at least as much as we spent on food, and I have never forgotten that kindness!)

(My sister and I are at a popular drive thru fast food chain for breakfast.)

Server: “Do you want any cream or sugar for the coffee?”

Sister: “No, thank you.”

Server: “I thought not. You’re pretty sweet and sugary yourself.”

(My sister is so thrown off she doesn’t know what to say, so I reach across the car for my coffee and speak up.)

Me: “Thanks, honey!”

(Being a guy in my 20s, he seems a little put off. As we drive off I tell my sister:)

Me: “Next time I’ll have my coffee, hold the creep.”

(My boyfriend and I are leaving a restaurant. I stop at the curb, and yell “CURB TOLL.” He knows that if I do this that I want a kiss.)

Boyfriend: *hands the doggy bag to me and tries to pick me up, which he knows I hate*

Me: “No, no, no! I don’t want to be picked up!”

Boyfriend: “Well, I’m sorry, but this is the only way I know how. I’m no good at pickup lines.”

(It’s a Sunday, and my best friend and I are going to the movies along with his little sister. However, the theater has closed early and we instead decide to go to a restaurant nearby. We order some appetizers and are just chatting. My friend works at a grocery store and still has his polo and nametag on. He’s not one of the sharpest knives in the drawer but he’s a really good person. We notice one of the bus girls approach us.)

Worker: “Hi. You’re [Friend], right?”

Friend: “Yeah, how’d you know that?”

Worker: “My name is [Worker]. Don’t you remember me?”

Friend: “Uh…” *pulls the ‘oh, yeah’ face* “I think I actually do! How you been?”

Worker: “I’m lying. We’ve never met before.”

(At this point his sister and I laugh hysterically.)

Me: “You get a high five for that!”

Sister: “Can I shake your hand?”

Worker: “I’m sorry. You had your nametag on and I just couldn’t resist.”

(My friend has a really good sense of humor and appreciates a good joke. As we’re leaving, we tip the waitress and he gives an extra tip to the bus girl as well.)

(My sister and I are dining at a restaurant. We are seated next to the soda dispenser.)

Sister: “Waiter, can I get a refill?”

Waiter: “Sure.”

(The waiter pinches the mouth of my sister’s glass and refills her soda. We see that because of the way he is holding the drink his fingers have touched the liquid. The waiter returns with my sister’s drink.)

Sister: “I’m sorry, but did you put your fingers in the soda?”

(I believe the waiter has misheard because he gives her a very puzzled look and then puts one of his fingers into her soda.)

Me: “Um… she was saying that you put your fingers into her soda when you were refilling it.”

Waiter: *goes wide-eyed as this dawns on him* “Oh! Sorry!”

(He sheepishly took his finger out of the drink, then went back to the soda dispensers to get my sister a new glass, making sure to watch where his fingers ended up.)