Surely He Was Dreaming
Kasey stared at the note over and over. He was still in a state of disbelief. He replayed the events of the day before, trying to figure it all out.
He hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary. Nothing to warrant this came to mind. He’d just helped an old lady. Whatever they took so personally, Kasey felt he didn’t deserve this.
Southern Hospitality
Texans took hospitality seriously, or at least that’s what Kasey Simmon’s mom had always taught him. He respected those around him as a young man, but Kasey’s caring nature went beyond family.
It started as a day like any other. However, on this warm Texan morning, Kasey had no idea what a simple gesture would lead to when he decided to help a stranger.
He Could Tell Something Was Wrong
It started at a Kroger supermarket. Kasey noticed an elderly woman with bloodshot eyes. He wanted to help but did not want to make her uncomfortable either.
As he stood behind her, he casually commented on the weather. He then told her not to “look so down” and that she was a “beautiful lady.” He could immediately tell that she was more upset now.
She Refused To Smile
She grimaced more now, but Kasey was not so easily deterred. She reminded him of his gran and, such was his nature, he could not bear to see her upset.
He tried his best to crack some jokes and kept trying to make her smile. As he did this, he hadn’t expected her reaction. Instead of smiling as he hoped, she began to cry more.
He Didn’t Give Up
Kasey was invested in this now. Seeing the old woman so upset saddened him, and he felt more resolute about helping her. Where others may have given up and left her alone, Kasey couldn’t bring himself to leave her in tears.
Trying his hardest and acting the fool for her benefit, Kasey was determined to change her mood. After all his antics, something finally happened.
It Was Worth It
The woman’s face was pink now, her grey hair matted and wrinkled face streaked with tears. She looked so sad it broke Kasey’s heart. But after all his efforts, against all this, the woman broke a tiny smile.
Seeing it spread across her face was like a ray of sunshine to Kasey. Now that he’d accomplished the smile, he wanted to do more for her.
On A Roll
After getting the woman to start smiling, Kasey then offered to pay for her groceries. She flushed with embarrassment, but Kasey was insistent, and she eventually allowed him to do it.
Kasey was on a roll now and determined to turn her sad day around. Whatever was troubling her, Kasey felt that kindness could cure anything, so he offered one last favor.
A Job Well Done
Kasey helped the lady carry her bags and left her his Applebees business card if she ever needed help again. After loading her up, she was in better spirits.
As she jumped in to drive off, she wrote a little note, startling Kasey slightly as she sort of shoved it into his hand. As she drove off and Kasey read the note, it brought tears to his eyes.
The First Note
The note read, “Today is the anniversary of my husband’s passing. I’ve been finding it so hard to make it through the day. Thank you for your kindness.” The note was still streaked with tears.
Kasey felt so sad but also happy he had helped. He walked away, hoping she would be okay. What he didn’t know at the time was where his encounter with the old lady would lead.
The Next Day
By the next afternoon, Kasey could not dwell on the old lady. As a server at a local Applebees, his late shift was in full swing. Doing his best to keep up with the rush, Kasey cleared the table for a small family.
He immediately knew something was off. Despite there being two parents and two young kids, all the family ordered was a small flavored water for 37 cents before asking for the bill.
The Second Note
Being a dinner rush, any other server might have been annoyed by the family. They even asked to split the meager bill between two credit cards. But Kasey was no ordinary server.
Instead of anger, he politely did as they asked, choosing not to judge. When the family left, and he fetched the receipt, his jaw dropped as he found another note left for him.
Paying It Forward
The note was from the mom in the family. Decorated with hearts, and even though it spelled his name wrong, the note explained that the old lady Kasey had helped the day before was her mom.
She expressed the family’s gratitude and asked him to accept their gesture as a thank you for his kindness the day before. When Kasey looked at the receipt, he was left in tears again.
The Payback
Kasey could not believe his eyes. It seems ordering the flavored water had just been a ruse. Kasey had to check in with his manager if this was really happening.
He felt like he didn’t deserve it. The manager confirmed it was real. For a 37 cent bill, the family had left Kasey a $500 tip.
He Wasn’t Alone
Kasey was so amazed by what had happened that he posted about it on social media. In no time, the story went viral. Before long, even national news agencies were running the story.
The reaction to Kasey’s story has been overwhelmingly positive. Praised for his kindness, Kasey continues to look for opportunities to help others.
Kasey’s Philosophy
Kasey’s philosophy in life is to be kind at all times. His example may be difficult to follow. These days, most people would rather look out for themselves than ever try to help another person.
But Kasey’s story shows us that kindness can often be its own reward, so maybe we should all ask ourselves, “how can I help someone else today?”