Used to wait tables. One woman came in already angry – snapped her fingers, sent food back for no reason, tipped nothing, and wrote: “Try smiling more.” So I did. Then I flipped the receipt and wrote: “Try tipping more.” She saw it and froze.

For a second, she looked like she was about to explode. Her eyes flicked back to mine – narrow, cold. I thought I was about to get fired or at least yelled at in front of everyone. Instead, she stood up, grabbed her purse, and walked out without another word.

I figured that was the end of it. Just another unpleasant customer in a long line of them. I was used to them, honestly. Working at a mid-tier diner on the edge of downtown, you get all types. The ones who pretend you’re invisible. The ones who treat you like a servant. And the rare kind ones, who leave a smile and a decent tip. But her? She stuck in my mind.