I am ticked off. I cannot believe how uncivilized people are these days. It became increasingly harder for my 7-month pregnant wife to commute using the busy NYC subway system. My wife often complains about people who intentionally ignore her, or even shove her aside to get a seat (there are a few exceptions, of course). I still remember the days when a man would offer his seat to a child, a pregnant woman, a handicapped person, or an elderly person. This is no more…at least in New York City.
Photo from stock.xchng
Without turning this post into a rant, I would like to share an inspiring story with you. I cannot recall where I first read this story, but I thought it was a great story that reminds me of the more civilized days when people were nicer to each other. This is a variation of that story.
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year old boy entered a coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress comes by and put a glass of water in front of him.
“How much is an ice cream sundae?” asked the boy. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
“How much is a plain ice cream?” he inquired.
Some people were now entering the restaurant and the waitress became impatient.
“Thirty-five cents,” she said annoyingly.
The little boy again counted the coins.
“I’ll have the plain ice cream please,” he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier, and departed. When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies…her tip.
I know this has nothing to do with personal finance, but I hope you enjoyed the story nevertheless.
I think it highlights that no matter what little you have, there is always room for thinking about others.
Serena, welcome to Moolanomy. That’s right, they mimic the parents and us adult just have to be very mindful about how we act around them.
Parents and adults indeed need to set the example for the children to learn kindness and generosity. Thanks for sharing the story.
Thank you. I will teach my kid to be that way — generous and kind. We need more good things in life.
That’s a great story. I hope my kids turn out that way someday. I also hope my son will grow up to gladly give up his seat on a subway to a pregnant woman!