Once I finished with the appointment, I decided to head to Taco Bell, taking the easy way out on at least one item on this list. We did a u-turn at the train tracks because I don't have the patience today, and went to the Taco Bell that's a bit further away, probably saving no actual time and spending a bit more gas, but allowing me to feel better because I was actually moving.
We took our place in line with, well- the rest of the free world, and slowly inched our way toward food. Jasen Riley thought he'd be funny at the talky box (We've talked about this. It's a word now) despite the impatient line behind us and my inability to deal with even minor stresses at the moment, taking forever to say what he wanted and not telling me that he didn't want a soda and was ordering his brother's choice until after I did the same. So I had to change the order. Yeah, it was super NOT funny. But finally after a couple of false starts and about 5 exhausted apologies, I made my way around to the window.
This would be the window where I realized that I didn't have my purse. I had $12 in cash thanks to my appointment before, but a $17 order, I think. And the dread set in. This is exhausting, stressful, and embarrassing. Really embarrassing.
With little choice, I related my sad tale to the busy woman at the window who had already had to deal with my ordering situation and was facing a line of hungry customers. I asked her if I could pay for part of it now and come back for the rest. And you might guess what comes next.
I'm sure we've all encountered the harried employee who forgets customer service after having to deal with the stresses of the industry. You've seen the eyeroll, heard the tone when you ask for more napkins, perhaps even dealt with the ridiculous employee who can't even be bothered to do the job at all- even without complications like this one. You've witnessed the judgement and disdain that only compounds the embarrassment of idiocy exposed.
But this isn't that story. She simply asked me how much money I had, with no trace of annoyance or even concern about what impatient person she might face next. She spoke with straightforward kindness, not even pity which might heighten embarrassment, and then when I answered her, this amazing woman simply set to work calculating how she might be able to fix my problem for me.
She gave me a senior discount (I was having a senior moment, so that's fair, I guess), and when that still left me scrounging through my change for the rest, she decided to comp me the 2 soft tacos as a "promo," getting my total to $13.15 and us on our merry way.
Perhaps that train sent me exactly where I was meant to go, so that we could pick up something more important than a quick lunch. I left Taco Bell today with the food that would help fill my boys' bellies, but more importantly, with the simple act of unearned kindness that has filled our hearts and spirits.
