Shikira couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a $4,000 tip on the table. This amount was life-changing!
But before she had the chance to pocket the well-deserved tip, her boss snatched it away from her. Shikira could only keep the money under one condition.
Shikira Edwards
Shikira Edwards had worked part-time at Denny's for over three years to pay for her college tuition.
She had dealt with different customers before, so meeting a generous diner came as no surprise to her.
Kind Woman
The woman she served that morning was one of the nicest customers she had ever met at Denny's. “She appreciated my smile,” Shikira recalls.
The two instantly got along, and the woman promised Shikira she would be back in a day or two to say hello.
$4,000 Tip
When Shikira started to clear the woman's table, she saw a $4,000 tip paid by credit card. A rush of emotion overwhelmed her as she picked up the check.
She approached her manager to tell him the good news. But his reaction wouldn't be what she expected.
Blessing
“It’s just such a blessing to have good people like that… God did answer my prayers, ’cause he knows what I go through,” Shikira told Fox 13 News.
Her manager stared at the enormous tip in disbelief. He couldn't believe that someone would leave Shikira so much money. Could it have been a mistake?
In Disbelief
He looked at Shikira and said, “I’m sorry, but this is staying with me.”
He was confident that the tip was left in an error. After all, $4,000 is a lot of money.
One Condition
He calmly explained to Shikira that she might be able to keep the tip under one condition.
“I’m just hurt that they would tell me something like this as a business, and as being the owner to tell me that this is the only resolution as if I’m wrong to ask for something I know I deserve,” Shikira recalls.
Heartwarming Stories
Shikira had heard of other waitresses receiving generous tips, whose bosses let them keep the money. After all, most waitresses in the United States earn between $300 and $500 a week, so a tip like this was life-changing to them.
But her tip was now in her manager's pocket. But what was his condition?
Too Much
Shikira's manager was asking for too much. There was no way she could do it.
She took a deep breath before informing the manager of her decision. But would she regret it?
Tracking Down The Woman
Shikira's manager had told her that in order to keep the tip, she would have to track down the woman and confirm that she really intended to leave a $4,000 tip.
But how could Shikira find her when she wasn't even a regular customer?
Local News Station
Shikira decided to contact the local news to share her story in the hope that the woman would see the broadcast.
She felt like Denny's management had mistreated her and shamed her by suggesting she should have been more attentive at her job.
"I don't know who tipped me"
“You’re going to tell me that it’s my fault that I didn’t get the information on a customer when they left and tipped me?” Shikira said.
“I don’t know who tipped me!”
A Mistake
The investigation confirmed that the woman didn't intend to leave a $4,000 tip. She had made an error while paying the bill.
Shikira was upset to hear that as she had already begun spending the money in her head.
The Statement
“This investigation involved the franchise, its manager and staff, the guest and his bank," the statement read.
"We understand the disappointment our server must feel.”
She Understood
Although Shikira was sad that the lady didn't actually tip her $4,000, she knew she had done the right thing by getting in touch with her and double-checking her bill.
After all, if she was in the woman's shoes, she would certainly want her money back.