A Demand
Although she knew that hers wasn’t the most honorable profession, she was surprised to see the officer striding toward her. Then, she saw the man she had sent away, slinking beside him.
Her heart began to race. The officer slapped his hands on her desk, leaned in and unflinchingly made a demand that made her eyes widen in disbelief.
Just A Job
westernd61
While working at the pawnshop downtown, Alicia Danielle thought she had seen it all. She had seen the desperation and greed in people’s eyes as she counted out the dollar bills behind the till after a big sale. She had seen a mother’s heart breaking as she pawned off her last family heirloom.
She hardened her heart and got on with it. Without this job, she didn’t know where she’d be.
Strange Clients
theworldnewsdaily.com
Alicia had been in the business for so long that she could read a man’s intentions just from looking at his face. The pawnshop attracted a strange cross-section of people from all over town, but Alicia found that most people who frequented the pawnshop could be placed into two categories: the desperate down-and-out, and the vultures that hovered close behind, looking to score a deal.
However, the officer who confronted her that day left her completely blindsided.
Experienced
inc.com
Alicia had gotten to know the regulars who came in over the years, and she had them all pegged. She knew which ones would want to haggle over rare antiques and which ones would pay full price — no questions asked. It was a small town, and she never forgot a face.
So, when she saw the unfamiliar man walk through the door, she was right to keep a close eye on him.
A New Face
Trop-Fort
Alicia took her place at the cash register, but her instincts went into overdrive when the stranger made a beeline toward the back of the shop. Her finger hovered over the panic button underneath the counter, but it did nothing to calm her nerves.
She knew that, if anything should happen, it would all be over before the police even arrived. But the last thing she expected was for the policeman to take the man’s side.
The Squad Car Arrives
paNow
Alicia narrowed her eyes as she focused on the monitor. She watched the man milling out of sight again in the security camera’s feed. He was wearing a long coat, and his hands were shoved firmly in his pockets. Unfortunately, she couldn’t focus on him for long.
While she had been distracted, a line of irate people had suddenly formed in front of the counter. Reluctantly tearing her eyes away, she failed to notice the squad car sidling into the parking lot out front.
Odd Behavior
YouTube
Alicia’s eyes periodically flew to the screen, searching for the suspicious man as she rang up purchase after purchase. She quickly spotted him again, loitering behind the snaking line of customers. Alicia couldn’t believe her luck — the store was the busiest it had been all year.
But the man didn’t join the line. Why was he hanging back? She quickly dealt with her customers and waited for the man to make his move.
Short-Lived Relief
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Finally, after the lunchtime rush had passed and the tide of customers had left, the man slowly approached the counter. Alicia couldn’t hide the look of relief on her face when she realized that he actually wanted to purchase something.
She assumed it would be a straightforward transaction: she’d ring up his items, process payment, and then he’d leave. But she was wrong.
Something Off
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The man gingerly placed a pair of secondhand shoes on the counter. She rang them up and told him the amount, and he handed her his debit card. But she shouldn’t have relaxed her guard just yet.
As Alicia punched the numbers into the card terminal and handed it to him, the man began to act suspiciously again.
A Defining Moment
MiLB.com
Alicia looked down at the man’s feet, then back up to his face. The man was clearly nervous — as if he knew something terrible was about to happen. He keyed in his pin number and bit his lip. He crossed his fingers, as if he was hoping for good luck.
He already knew what was about to happen. But when it did, all hell broke loose.
Declined
Depositphotos
The man passed the terminal back to Alicia and held his breath. But he couldn’t stop the inevitable from happening. His card was declined.
Looking visibly upset and angry, he shoved his hand in his pocket when Alicia gently asked him if he had any other way to pay. But this strange interaction was far from being over yet.
Storming Out
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The man informed Alicia that he had no cash and no other cards on him, so she had to ask him to return the shoes, which he did. Then, he stormed out of the store.
Alicia couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, but this wasn’t a charity store. Little did Alicia know, she was going to see the man again very soon… and he wouldn’t be alone.
Trouble
Credits
After the man had left the store, Alicia was again overwhelmed by customers. She didn’t have time to reflect on what had just happened.
But when she looked up and saw the policeman hanging back with the man who had tried to purchase the shoes not half an hour ago, she froze. Was she in trouble?
What Did They Want?
Credits
Alicia tried not to focus on what was about to unfold in her store and tried to serve her customers promptly and efficiently.
But she couldn’t help but notice that the man and the police officer seemed to be hanging back on purpose — they weren’t joining the line of shoppers. Did they want to speak to her in private?
Alone
Credits
Eventually, Alicia had almost rung up and processed all the transactions in the checkout line. That’s when she began to panic. She was all alone in the store and if there was about to be trouble, she’d rather have witnesses.
Alas, it wasn’t long before the second rush-hour had ended and she was alone again. Except for the two men.
Confrontation
Credits
When the big man in uniform made his way to the register, Alicia felt fear coursing through her veins. What was going on? She studied his face for a clue, but she found none.
“Is everything okay?” She stammered. “Can I help you in any way?” But when the intimidating man slapped his hands on the counter and leaned in, his answer left her completely blindsided.
No Witnesses
680 News
“No problem, but if you have those shoes still, I’d like to go ahead and purchase them,” said the officer. Alicia couldn’t believe her ears. Was he really doing this? In all her years of working in that pawn shop, nothing like this had ever happened before.
She looked around, dumbfounded. There was nobody else in the store to witness what was happening.
Calculated
feng-shui.lovetoknow.com
Alicia had noticed that the shoes on the man’s feet were tattered and were full of holes. She visibly relaxed. It was clear what the officer’s purpose in her store was now — he’d come to buy the replacement pair that the man so desperately needed.
But why had he waited for everyone to leave before approaching her?
Not Making A Scene
Credits
Alicia quickly realized that neither of the men wanted to make a scene. The officer had calculated his response to coincide with the pawnshop’s customers leaving.
This was because neither of the men wanted attention, on social media or otherwise. The officer genuinely wanted to help the man in his time of need. That’s when Alicia made a decision.
Inspired
Credits
Alicia also wanted to help the poor man, so she told the officer that she would split the cost of the new shoes, and she’d pay for her half out of her own pocket.
She was inspired by the policeman’s kindness and also wanted to pay it forward. The man obviously needed some warm, comfortable shoes. But Alicia wasn’t the only woman to find herself in a strange situation while she was on the job. Ashley Latella’s story was far stranger…
Warning Bells
Youtube/Maurizio M
She blinked and glanced from the group of men to the unpaid bill again, not quite understanding what they were asking her. But again, they motioned to the back room. Her eyes swept through the crowded bar, searching for help. The warning bells in her mind were almost as loud as the human din and clinking glasses around her.
She readied herself for the trouble she knew was coming.
A Server’s Work Is Never Done
Ashley Latella was working the night shift at the Seagrape Café in Fairfield, Connecticut when she noticed the group of men saunter in. The December holiday season was in full swing and she was struggling to keep up.
The tables quickly filled up for dinner service, the overflow of diners bustling into the bar area as she rushed from table to table taking orders.
Run Off Her Feet
The Sun
Another wave of students swept into the bar, jeering and whooping before they ordered their first rounds and hammered them down.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ashley noticed three men take their seats in the corner. Carlos Carmo, her manager, noticed them too. He knew they didn’t belong. He had meant to keep an eye on them but was soon carried away on other business.
Uneasy
Youtube/Maurizio M
Ashley took the men’s orders and bustled to make them comfortable. But as experienced as she was at her job, she couldn’t help but feel taken aback by their behavior.
The men ordered round after round, and every time Ashley walked away from the table she could feel their eyes burning into her back. And every time she approached with their orders, they would fall completely silent. But it was only when she brought them their bill that she would understand their true motivations.
The Wildcard
university fox
Ashley knew from experience that it was usually the quieter patrons who gave the most trouble. There was always one table that was holding a wildcard. Usually, if she felt uncomfortable she would swap tables with one of her male staff members, just to be safe.
But there was no chance of that happening tonight – everyone had their hands full. Unfortunately, the men waited until the last possible minute to show their true colors.
Ulterior Motives
YouTube/WTNH News8
The more Ashley thought about it, the more it didn’t make sense. The Seagrape Café was a well-known student bar. Why were these older gentlemen here? They were definitely the oldest people in the room.
Call it a woman’s intuition or experience, Ashley just knew there would be trouble. And she was right.
Unprepared
Youtube/Maurizio M
As a server, Ashley expected to have good customers and bad customers. And some were just downright rude.
Nevertheless, she resolved to always try her best to give all her customers equally good service. But nothing could have prepared her for the men’s refusal to settle their bill.
Just The Beginning
university fox
When it was finally time to bring the men their check, Ashley breathed a sigh of relief. It was drawing near to the end of her shift and she was looking forward to going home to recoup before it all began again tomorrow. But she wasn’t out of the woods just yet.
When she returned to collect their payment, she wasn’t ready for what they wanted from her.
What Were They Playing At?
Youtube/Maurizio M
One of the men had the folder with the bill inside pinned under his elbows, close to his chest. But when Ashley moved to retrieve it he refused to move back. He slowly and deliberately looked her up and down — she could feel his eyes on her as they traveled up to her startled face.
Then, he scooped it up and deliberately held it out of her reach, as if taunting her.
Strange Games
Youtube/Maurizio M
Without breaking contact with Ashley’s eyes, he pushed his chair back and the other two men followed suit — as if this was a signal from their ringleader.
They all rose to stand, and the man who was holding the bill ransom swung his neck over his shoulder and looked pointedly at the door behind him. At first, Ashley was confused. Then, he motioned for her to follow him.
Confusion
Youtube/Maurizio M
At first, Ashley couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening. She raised her hands in the universal gesture of confusion. But the man was adamant. He leaned closer and she struggled to hear him over the loud music. He repeated his request.
When it dawned on her that they wanted to settle their bill in private, she felt so unsettled that she felt herself freeze on the spot as a primal fear took hold of her.
Suspicions
Youtube/Maurizio M
Ashley’s thoughts began to race as she scanned the crowd for her manager.
Why would these men want to settle their bill somewhere more private? If they had any grievances, why couldn’t they tell her right here in the safety of the bar? On the other hand, there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Mixed Feelings
Youtube/Maurizio M
Ashley was used to patrons coming onto her — after all, she was young and attractive and she worked hard to keep herself in shape. And it wasn’t lost on her that the man who refused to give her the bill was rather good-looking himself. It was strange, but behind the instinctual fear, she was feeling a small flutter of excitement.
But she couldn’t even entertain that thought. All she knew was that there was no way she was going into the back room with these strange men.
Getting Help
university fox
Thankfully, Ashley caught Carlos’ attention as he rushed by. The fearful look in her eyes said it all. He stopped in his tracks and Ashley felt relief wash over her. Carlos had known something would happen tonight, but even he balked when she explained what had happened.
He’d handle it from here. They would all go into the back room together.
Complying
WTNH News
Carlos’ first thought was that perhaps the men were dissatisfied with their service. He only hoped things wouldn’t get out of hand. The tension seemed to rise off the worried manager as he walked stiffly into the back, with Ashley and the men in tow.
Ashley and Carlos were exactly where the men wanted them. They were in for a surprise.
In Private
Youtube/Maurizio M
In the quieter setting of the private room, the men confirmed Ashley’s suspicions. They revealed that they had been watching her closely all night. They observed all four bartenders being run off their feet, and they were impressed.
Carlos immediately relaxed and let his guard down, and the men handed him the bill. When he saw the figure written in the gratuity line he almost passed out.
First Glance
WTNH News
Carlos saw a five and two zeros and couldn’t believe it – a tip of $500 was unheard of for a bill of $112. He couldn’t believe these men wanted to tip the staff that much! He voiced his gratitude, but the men told him to look again.
He thought they had tipped $500, but he was wrong.
Another Zero
WTNH News
Looking closer, Carlos’ first reaction gave way to sheer confusion. “I saw another zero,” he explained in an interview. His face turned as white as a sheet, and Ashley immediately burst into tears.
After a few minutes, she regained her composure and rushed to give the men a big hug. It wasn’t a $500 tip, it was a $5,000 tip! But why?
Tips For Jesus
Facebook/Tips For Jesus
So, who were these mysterious men who seemed to have a lot of cash to spend on exorbitant tips? And why had they chosen the staff at the Seagrape Café?
The men explained that they were part of a group called “Tips for Jesus,” and their mission was to do “The Lord’s work, one tip at a time.”
Giving Back
university fox
The group had been traveling across America, tipping huge amounts to hardworking servers in restaurants. They had already tipped a total of $11,500 in Manhattan alone. Soon, news of the group spread on social media. People all over America were coming forward to share their stories. One bartender got a staggering tip of $1,000 for a bill of just $85.
Ashley knew exactly what she was going to do with her portion of the tip.
Paying It Forward
Facebook/Tips For Jesus
Ashley knew she had to pay it forward, so she bought as many toys as she could at her local toy store and donated them all to a toy drive called Al’s Angels! She was so grateful she didn’t even want to keep any of the money herself.
But this wasn’t the only time Ashley had given to those in need.
Kindness Goes Around
WTNH News
In fact, Ashley had been planning to buy toys to donate to the toy drive for some time. “I’ve been trying to gather toys at my office. Toys, blankets,” she explained.
So the tip from “Tips for Jesus” couldn’t have come at a better time! The men couldn’t have known that Ashley was such a generous person herself. It just goes to show that kindness begets kindness.
Challenges
There are some pretty silly things that go viral on social media and some trends that are less than good for your health, cue the ‘tide pod challenge’.
People enjoy following and performing these challenges, especially if they can get a good post out of it. Luckily, the latest trend is a super feel good one that everyone will enjoy.
Making Ends Meet
For most servers, their job is a way to make ends meet and definitely not a way to get rich quick until now that is.
The latest #challenge is called ‘tip the bill’ or ‘tip the bill challenge’ is a way for anyone to participate in the fun, spread the love, and feel great at the same time.
Bad Tippers
The challenge involves ordering anything you like from the menu and when the bill arrives leaving 100% gratuity, but some people have taken it further… A lot further.
And it couldn’t come at a better time either. People are in a tipping slump, some studies showing that almost 50% of all diners have no idea how much they should be tipping, so what is the right amount?
More Than You Think
If you didn’t already know it, between 15% and 20% is the recommended amount you should budget for when dining out.
But people participating in this challenge are upping the ante, like this regular at Blue 4 a restaurant in upper Northwest Washington.
Loyal Customers
Christofer Nardelli, owner of the four-year-old restaurant said the customer lives in the area and frequents the bar a few times a month.
His favorite item on the menu is most definitely the gumbo, which features a chicken and andouille sausage base with a dark roux, paired with an Old Chub Scotch Ale.
Food Pairings
Occasionally, Christofer, and the chef, James Turner, e-mailed over food pairings and beer selections to keep the customers informed of new happenings at the restaurant.
Recently James even went so far as to email the patron personally, asking him for advance notice on the next time he would be in the restaurant so he could make the gumbo he liked.
A While Later
They finished their food and drinks, got the bill, paid and left, but it wasn’t until later that anyone noticed something unusual.
Well after the guests had left, Laura Dally, the bartender, noticed the bill on the table. He is known as a regular who favors the gumbo and is a good, generous tipper, but this was beyond that.
Unprecedented
The three staff were stunned that anyone could leave such a gigantic tip on a $93 bill.
Laura had picked up the bill as everyone else was cleaning up and getting ready to close, but when she peeked inside she immediately went to go get Chris.
Incredulous
But the owner, bartender, and chef at the restaurant on Connecticut Avenue said they were shocked when the patron left a really, really big tip — $2,000 on a $93 bill.
“I was in an utter daze,” she said. “I was completely speechless. I had to do a double take.” Laura went to her boss and said, “We need to talk.”
Is It Real?
The two went back to his office, and she showed him the receipt. “I didn’t know what to say,” Chris recalled. “This is the kind of stuff you see in the restaurant business that happens to some guy in the Midwest or the West Coast,” He said.
“You think, who are these people who give these extraordinarily generous tips that just made a server or bartender’s day? And then, sure enough, it happened to us.”
The Rules
Along with the credit card slip showing the $2,000 tip was a note including details of how it should be divided among the three — $1,000 for chef James and $500 each for Laura and Chris.
But just what was the reason for someone to leave such an incredibly large tip?
Thank-You
The next day, Chris sent a “thank you” e-mail to the man and got the explanation for the crazy tip, “He said he’s very happy with what we’ve built and that he’s proud to be a customer,” Chris said.
The patron also said in the e-mail, “I’m very happy to express my gratitude in that way.”
A Helping Hand
Each person is using their sudden windfall wisely too, Chris said he plans to use his money to help offset his toddler’s monthly day-care bill and believes that James will spend his money on his family as well, while Laura, a 29-year-old Silver Spring resident, said she plans to use her $500 to pay for a summer class at Montgomery College.
She is working to become an occupational therapist.
Never Before!
“It’s flattering,” he said. “It’s nice to see somebody appreciate what we do and they’re willing to leave something like that for us. It’s hard to believe anyone deserves a tip like that.” Chris said, followed by Laura who said in her 10 years of working off and on as a hostess, server or bartender she has, “Never! Never have I gotten a tip this big. Never.”
And a note on the back of the bill— “Thank you for the Gumbo!”