Picking up the tab

By Carroll Owen

Special to the Post

On Jan. 15, my wife and I were sitting down to enjoy a delicious breakfast at IHOP when, as we were being seated, I noticed a gentleman sitting in the booth behind my wife. He had no peculiar look or mannerisms but I noticed he was by himself. He was particularly enjoying his meal as he ate quite fast, it seemed.

As my wife and I began our usual banter back and forth, I lost interest in this stranger. When he got up to leave, I noticed that he was walking with a cane. This, too, wasn’t unusual as I can relate to that, having had both knees replaced.

As he neared the register I heard him ask to see the manager. I didn’t notice him being upset with his meal, so I couldn’t imagine what he wanted with the manager. As he talked with her, I couldn’t hear the conversation as he had his back to us. After he finished talking to her, he paid his bill and left.

We continued our eating and talking and soon forgot about this stranger. As we finished our meal I noticed our waitress hadn’t brought our bill. When I asked for it she came over to us with this big smile on her face, and I thought, “Oh no, what have I done?”

But, she said, “I have some good news for you. Did you notice the gentleman sitting behind you?” We said that we did, and she said that gentleman had paid for every group’s bill that was sitting on our side.

We were quite stunned at this news because we didn’t know this man and he didn’t know anyone on our side of the restaurant, but he wanted to pay for everyone’s meal. She also said that he left a $10 tip on every table for the waitress serving those tables.

What a nice surprise for us all sitting on that side! He made no big scene about it, he just quietly paid the huge bill and wished everyone at the register to have a good day. Talk about good Samaritans, this man surely fits that category very well.

I don’t know if he is from Salisbury or a surrounding town in Rowan County or if he subscribes to the Post, but if he does, let me say to him that your kind and generous action certainly made the day of a large group of people. You will no doubt receive a reward for this kindness either here on Earth or in Heaven.

Thank you for making our day bright and enjoyable.

Carroll Owen lives in Salisbury.

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