Waiter Pays Grieving Older Lady’s Grocery Bill, Gets $500 Tip and a Note Hours Later

While shopping at his local grocery store, a man noticed an older woman who looked despondent. As other shoppers passed by her, the man decided to speak to her and offer help. He didn’t know that he would receive a pleasant surprise hours later.

Believe it or not, random acts of kindness never go unnoticed. We never know what someone is going through, and sometimes, even the simplest gestures of kindness can unexpectedly lift a person’s spirits. 

Showing love and care doesn’t cost a thing, but their impact is so significant that they can bring strangers together and forge lasting connections. In a world where we can be anything, choosing to be kind is always a great option. The story we’re sharing today embodies this concept. 

A TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE

Kasey Simmons lived in Little Elm, Denton County, Texas, and worked as a waiter at an Applebee’s restaurant. One day in 2016, he decided to go to the Kroger supermarket for grocery shopping and had a strange experience. 

While standing in the checkout line, Simmons, who was 32 at the time, saw an older woman who looked rather gloomy. The Texas waiter recalled the instance in these words:

“I noticed there was a lady standing in front of me. It looked like she had been crying because once in a while, she’d glance over to me.”

GOING OUT OF HIS WAY

While other shoppers passed by her, Simmons said there was something about the lady that made him want to speak to her and lift her spirits. 

Once he managed to recover from the initial shock, he noticed something scribbled on a napkin.

So without further ado, Simmons walked straight up to her and said, “It’s not raining inside. There’s no reason to look so down. I’m sure you have a beautiful smile because you are a beautiful lady.”

“IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY”

The Little Elm resident noted that the mature lady shut him down a bit, but it wasn’t difficult to tell that she was having a bad day. He wished to make her smile a little, but it wasn’t working despite his efforts. So Simmons decided to pay for her grocery bill. He shared:

“It was only $17, but it’s not about the money. It’s about showing someone you care.”

After a lot of insistence, Simmons said he succeeded in making the older woman smile. Before leaving, he handed her his Applebee’s business card and then headed to work. 

A TOUGH DAY AT WORK

A few hours later, Simmons was working the dinner shift at the restaurant. He recounted how he didn’t feel his usual cheerful self and was having a bad night when a female customer walked in. He told her:

“Hey, my name’s Kasey. I’m just letting you know that I am so far behind, and I’m in the weeds right now.”

Simmons informed the woman it would take about 45 minutes before he could wait on her and her family. He said he offered to buy the drinks, which was all they ordered. Later, Simmons returned with a 65-cent check for flavored water, the cheapest item on the menu. The diner requested it so that she could leave a tip.

AN UNUSUAL REQUEST

When Simmons brought her the check, the customer asked him to split the 65 cents between two credit cards. He was clearly baffled by her unusual request and even proceeded to ask her if she was serious. Simmons revealed:

“I think she [the customer] wanted to see if I was a real nice guy or a fake nice guy. The real nice guy splits it and brings the lady her check.”

Shortly afterward, Simmons divided the check and placed 37 cents on one receipt. The woman left Simmons a $500 tip on that one,  bringing the total to $500.37.

A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE

Simmons was stunned and rendered speechless. Once he managed to recover from the initial shock, he noticed something scribbled on a napkin. He nearly choked up while reading the message out loud. It said:

“On behalf of the Sullivan family, I want to thank you for being the person you are. On one of the most depressing days of the year (the death of my father’s 3-year anniversary), you made my mother’s day wonderful. She has been smiling since you did what you did.”

The tip was enormous, but so was the smile that spread across Simmons’s face. At first, he thought it was all a big joke, but the $500 lying on the table and the sweet note proved that he wasn’t dreaming. 

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

Simmons shared that he hoped to meet the family in person and thank them for their kind gesture. Undoubtedly, this phenomenal story shows that we get back what we send out into the universe, and good deeds should always be paid forward. 

It also emphasizes the importance of being kind to everyone, especially older people, because they need to know that the younger generation has people who genuinely care about sharing and spreading love. 

What would you do if you were in Simmons’s place? Would you drop everything and walk over to someone who seemed to be having a terrible day? Please share this heartwarming story with your family and friends.