I work in a gas station. A bunch of little kids are outside pooling money together near the gas pumps where I am working. The gas station also sells pizza. I overhear that they’re buying slices of pizza, and they all agree to just use a pocket knife and eat a third of a piece each.
One kid needs some sort of part for his bike he’s been saving for and only needs another $20. He offers to buy everyone a piece if they try and get their parents to let him mow their yards for the money he needs.
I go in and grab a bunch of pizza, and they come in just as I am putting on the counter.
Me: “I saw you all trying to share your money.”
I leave $20 on the counter for the kid’s bike.
Me: “You get to divide it up and get your bike fixed because you offered to use your savings.”
I’ve never seen a happier group of kids. Since then, I try a few times a month or so to do something nice for someone.
About thirteen years later, I have moved on, but I swing into the same gas station as a customer to grab snacks for myself and some friends heading to the zoo. The Internet is apparently down all over town, so credit cards aren’t working, and we have almost no cash. I am pretty bummed, but stuff happens.
As I am putting stuff away, a guy offers to just pay for it all. When I politely decline, he starts laughing.
Guy: “Dude, you’re the guy!”
Me: “I’m what?”
Guy: “You’re the guy that bought us all pizza!”
It was the bike kid from years ago. He paid for the snacks, got his own, and followed us to the zoo on his motorcycle. He has a motorcycle shop now and has a spot out back where he gets junk bicycles donated to clean up and give away. He swears he’ll never have a vehicle with four wheels.
I guess he got his bike fixed. And now he has a pretty good life running a motorcycle shop and fixing-donating other kid’s bikes!
From Not Always Right" The Two Wheels Of Time
I work in a gas station. A bunch of little kids are outside pooling money together near the gas pumps where I am working. The gas station also sells pizza. I overhear that they’re buying slices of pizza, and they all agree to just use a pocket knife and eat a third of a piece each.
One kid needs some sort of part for his bike he’s been saving for and only needs another $20. He offers to buy everyone a piece if they try and get their parents to let him mow their yards for the money he needs.
I go in and grab a bunch of pizza, and they come in just as I am putting on the counter.
Me: “I saw you all trying to share your money.”
I leave $20 on the counter for the kid’s bike.
Me: “You get to divide it up and get your bike fixed because you offered to use your savings.”
I’ve never seen a happier group of kids. Since then, I try a few times a month or so to do something nice for someone.
About thirteen years later, I have moved on, but I swing into the same gas station as a customer to grab snacks for myself and some friends heading to the zoo. The Internet is apparently down all over town, so credit cards aren’t working, and we have almost no cash. I am pretty bummed, but stuff happens.
As I am putting stuff away, a guy offers to just pay for it all. When I politely decline, he starts laughing.
Guy: “Dude, you’re the guy!”
Me: “I’m what?”
Guy: “You’re the guy that bought us all pizza!”
It was the bike kid from years ago. He paid for the snacks, got his own, and followed us to the zoo on his motorcycle. He has a motorcycle shop now and has a spot out back where he gets junk bicycles donated to clean up and give away. He swears he’ll never have a vehicle with four wheels.
I guess he got his bike fixed. And now he has a pretty good life running a motorcycle shop and fixing-donating other kid’s bikes!
(NOT my story)