Wednesday 6 July 2011

Tugging the Heart Strings

Something that happened the other night reminded me of this story.

There's one guy, a friend of Odette, that comes in every so often. He's very wealthy and very nice, he leaves enormous tips and buys everyone working rounds of drinks. So a little while ago he came in and quietly told Odette that he wanted to buy one table's dinner. He also didn't want anyone to know that he'd done it. He left choosing the table to Odette and asked her to tell him who she picked.

There was one elderly couple in having dinner, they were both about eighty and very sweet. So Odette chose them and pointed them out to mystery man. He gave her his card and told her to charge their bill to it. She sorted that all out quietly and watched as the situation panned out.

The couple finished their meal and asked for the bill. Odette said "I'm not entirely sure how to tell you this, but a guest here has paid your bill already." Understandably, they were confused. She called over Mario and together they explained that a mystery customer had paid for their meal for them and didn't want to be identified. The woman started crying and explained that it was their wedding anniversary -  they'd been married for sixty years - and nothing like this ever happened to them. Odette and Mario bought them dessert and coffee on the house and told them to enjoy their evening. The couple finished the dessert and left holding hands.

Odette told me later that in over ten years of hospitality work, that was the only time she has ever teared up whilst working.

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