Jessie had just started working as a waitress at a local restaurant when she was assigned to serve a notoriously grouchy customer that no one else wanted to deal with. This challenging customer, an elderly man named Mr. Norton, left Jessie something that would change her life forever.
On her first day, Jessie’s colleague Mark pointed her toward table 13. “Alright, Jessie. Since you’re new here, you’ll have to take table 13,” he said, warning her about the difficult customer seated there.
Jessie looked at the table and saw an old man hunched over the menu. “What’s so bad about him?” she asked, puzzled.
“He’s a tough one. Just be prepared. No one likes serving him,” Mark replied.
Determined to make a good impression, Jessie approached Mr. Norton with a smile. “Hi, I’m Jessie. What would you like to drink today?” she asked cheerfully.
Mr. Norton scowled. “You guys always ask the same question. I want iced tea. Not too hot, not too cold, with a straw and two lemon wedges,” he grumbled.
Jessie took his order, but it wasn’t easy. Mr. Norton complained about everything—the tea was too sweet, too cold, the lemon wedges weren’t juicy enough, and the paper straw was flimsy. Despite his grumbling, Jessie kept her smile and did her best to please him.
As she continued serving him over the years, Jessie learned to handle Mr. Norton’s difficult behavior with patience. Sometimes, he would even ask her about her life, showing a rare glimpse of friendliness. Despite his constant complaints, he always left a decent tip.
One day, however, Mr. Norton didn’t leave any money. Instead, Jessie found a key and a note on the table. Her eyebrows shot up as she read the note aloud.
“Dear Jessie, thank you for putting up with this old grump for so long. I’m moving to a hospice and won’t be coming back. Here’s the key to my house. It’s yours. Contact my lawyer to make the necessary arrangements. I’ll miss you, dear. P.S. I didn’t mind that my tea was too sweet. See? My time is near.”
Jessie was stunned. Why would Mr. Norton give her his house? She contacted his lawyer and visited the hospice to see him. When she arrived, she saw how frail Mr. Norton had become.
“Why are you giving me your house?” Jessie asked, bewildered.
“My children hate me. I’ve been grumpy to everyone for years, and you were the only one who treated me kindly,” Mr. Norton explained. “You deserve the house for your big family. It’s meant for someone like you, who can be patient with old folks.”
Jessie couldn’t hold back her tears. She brought her kids to visit Mr. Norton that weekend, and for the first time in a long while, he smiled. It was a moment worth more than any tip.
A few weeks after Mr. Norton passed away, Jessie inherited the house. His family didn’t want anything to do with his estate, so everything went to her. The house was a huge blessing for her family, providing them with much-needed space.
Jessie and her husband, who both received promotions at work, were now in a better financial position. Their children were thrilled to have their own rooms, and they all felt immense gratitude for Mr. Norton’s generosity. To honor his memory, they began volunteering at a local senior center, always showing extra kindness to the grumpiest residents.
Lessons from This Story
- Patience with the Elderly: Just like children, older people need patience and understanding. Jessie’s ability to be patient with Mr. Norton made all the difference.
- Kindness Pays Off: Jessie’s kindness to a difficult customer led to an unexpected and life-changing reward.
- Share This Story: Sharing stories like this can inspire and uplift others, reminding them of the importance of patience and kindness.
