The Diner Downstairs

The diner downstairs makes a mean burger. I grab lunch there almost every day.

They’re hustling, you know? So I haven’t jacked up their rent in three years, and even give them a three-hundred-dollar break each month.

Today, I was rushing to work, and when they bagged my order, I noticed the chopsticks were all splintered.

Didn’t say anything to the owner, just snagged an extra pair.

Next thing I know, the owner's mom is storming into my office, demanding I pay up.

She was all passive-aggressive, saying stuff like, "They're just a small business, not like me with my big shot job."

In that moment, it just clicked.

Some people aren't worth your sympathy at all.

1

Last night, I was burning the midnight oil getting a presentation ready, so I was already running late this morning.

When I went to grab breakfast downstairs, I was in a mad dash.

Just told the owner to bag up a quick oatmeal and some pickles, and I was about to head out.

As I paid, I did a double-take.

One of the disposable chopsticks in the bag was all moldy.

The owner was swamped, so I just said a quick “Hey,” and helped myself to another pair from the table.

The owner didn’t bat an eye, and I hustled to work.

But like, half an hour later, a coworker tells me someone’s yelling for me downstairs.

I was totally confused.

I said “Okay,” and was about to go down, but I could already hear the ruckus in the hall.

The owner’s mom was huffing and puffing when she stormed up to the office.

She saw me, her eyes blazing, and just laid into me.

“Did you pay for those?! Just walked out?! You’d think a big-shot in a fancy office wouldn’t be stealing from a small business!”

I was like, what the heck?

I recognized her, the mom from the diner.

She and my mom were friends growing up, and she'd known me forever.

I figured it was a misunderstanding and started trying to explain.

“Mrs. Henderson, I paid! I scanned the QR code, didn’t I?”

I even showed her my bank statement for the morning.

That only made her madder.

She pointed her finger right in my face, and I could almost feel her spit.

"You paid seven bucks! You trying to rip off a little old lady like me? I'm gonna go straight to your boss!"

"Is that how employees act?

"We’re just trying to make a living, and you guys in your fancy offices come down here to rob us blind?"

“You grabbed two sets of chopsticks this morning! And you were loading up on those pickles! All for seven bucks. Are you nuts? Here, take the whole restaurant!”

2

She was pretty loud, and a bunch of people were starting to rubberneck.

Even my boss came out to see what all the fuss was about.

He hurried over, trying to smooth things over.

“Hey, Ashley, you were probably just rushing this morning, right? Just pay the lady what you owe.”

I knew we had a client meeting later, so I understood what my boss was doing. He wanted this wrapped up ASAP.

I nodded, trying to keep my cool, even though I was annoyed.

“Okay, Mrs. Henderson, here, let me scan your code. I'll give you five more bucks,...