Last Wednesday would have been my grandparents’ 50th anniversary. Since my grandfather Walter passed away two years ago, my grandmother Doris chose to honor the day by visiting the same restaurant they went to every year.
She wore the blouse and brooch he once gave her, ordered their usual meal, and left a 20% tip — all she could spare after saving bus fare. Before she could leave, her waitress, Jessica, mocked the tip loudly and made a cruel remark about her being alone, bringing my grandmother to tears.
The next day, I went back and requested Jessica as my server. After letting her believe she’d earn a big tip, I handed her an envelope filled with napkins reading, “You should be ashamed.”
By the next morning, she no longer worked there — and the manager invited my grandmother back for a free anniversary meal in her honor.
