Last month, in the midst of chaos with my broken-down car and a sleepless night babysitting my grandson, I found myself desperately in need of a coffee before my first lecture. The universe, however, had other plans. Standing in a small queue at Joe’s, the local coffee spot, I anticipated a quick caffeine fix.
A waiting line in the cafe | Source: Shutterstock
As I patiently waited, Joe, the barista, spotted me and called out, “Mrs. Richardson, espresso as always?” I smiled, a bit uncomfortable with the attention, and nodded. “My treat,” he added, brightening my morning. Little did I know, a storm was brewing in the queue.
A young lady ahead of me took offense at my unexpected treat. In a fit of impatience, she lashed out,
“I’ve been waiting here for 20 minutes, and for what? For such an old nag like you to come and cut the queue. Go babysit kids; I’m late for university to secure my future, not to wait for someone’s treat.”
She stormed to the cash desk, threw money, and confiscated my coffee. The entire cafe, including Joe and other customers, stood baffled. Usually, I would have laughed, but today wasn’t the day to be late, so I skipped the coffee and headed straight to the university.
A professor with students in the lecture hall | Source: Shutterstock
Entering the lecture hall, I began the class routine and reviewed the student list with their marks. I called out the best one, still looking at the list: “Jane Gellar”. Silence. I lifted my head: “Jane Gellar? Is she absent?”.
“I’m here,” her voice broke.
I looked for her and got baffled. It was her. That sassy girl from Joe’s. “Ooh, Ms Gellar, nice to see you again,” I remarked, suppressing a smirk. Her eyes widened, and she looked pretty scary. She started mumbling something. “Ms Gellar, I want you to stay after the lecture.”
After class, Jane attempted to apologize, but I reassured her that it was okay. “I found myself in need of an assistant. Seems like you’re the perfect candidate. You know…with a character!” She had no other choice but to accept my offer.
A concerned older woman talks to a younger woman | Source: Shutterstock
Over the next few months, Jane gained new experience. You know what I mean. I made sure she had fun. She wrote thousands of articles, underslept, tirelessly assisted me, and ran to Joe’s for coffee 10 times a day for other professors. She knew it was for her words in the cafe. And she started realizing how stupid and wrong she was.
A tired young woman sleeps on the table with cups of coffee | Source: Shutterstock
While working, she truly managed to learn a lot about journalism and teamwork. Recently, she wrote a story. And during one lecture, she read it in front of all the students and me. It was a tale about a brazen and discourteous boy, utterly lacking in manners, who callously humiliated an elderly man who passed away soon. She vividly depicted how this tragic demise cast a shadow over his entire existence, describing the boy’s profound regret and, ultimately, his transformative journey towards a more virtuous and enlightened path.
She then revealed to all that this story was based on her life, that it was actually about her and me. Everyone was baffled. She apologized publicly and thanked me for such a great lesson in her life. Students stood up and applauded.
An older woman smiles to a younger woman | Source: Shutterstock
Kindness transcends circumstances; the person you may underestimate today could become a significant part of your life tomorrow. Treat everyone with respect, for you never know the roles they might play in your future.
To be honest, I was genuinely happy that this girl learned something not only from our work but also from our real-life experiences. Maybe one day, Jane will impart this lesson of respect to another person and positively influence their life as well. I’m grateful that I, too, managed to navigate through it with dignity.
Here’s the story of a girl who, compared to Jane, decided not to go to college but chose to stay at home with her parents, paying them rent.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.