caffeinated kindness

My debit and Oyster card were stolen last night (who steals an Oyster card?). I was at a club where an extremely sneaky individual watched me plug in my pin and then, sometime thereafter, managed to fish the card from my purse and head to the nearest ATM where they proceeded to clear out my account. Clearly, this was a calculating person with remarkably deft fingers - not only do I struggle to open that tiny bag, it's usually a mission for me to find anything inside of it!

Anyway, I was at Starbucks this afternoon and tried to pay for my order with my American AmEx - the only form of legal tender I have right now - but it wouldn't work (I haven't tried elsewhere, but gracious, cross your fingers that it was just that machine).

The barrista swiped the card three times unsuccessfully, then asked, "Do you have anything else?"

I shook my head helplessly, "my cards were stolen last night, this is all I have."

We stood there for a moment, looking at each other, unsure of how to proceed (I was about to start begging her to just give me the coffee at the very least - since they'd already made it...) when the young girl, who had started out in line behind me, and had been forced to wait due to my predicament, but was now awaiting her order, approached me and held out four pounds "if you're having some trouble," she said, "here."

Now, mind you, this did not look like the sort of person who could just go around handing out pounds without blinking... I was shocked. "Are you sure?"

She nodded, then handed me the coins.

"Thank you, that's so very kind of you. Truly, so sweet." I didn't know what else to say.

I paid for my coffee and biscotti, and as the girl headed out the door, I thanked her again.

But that hardly seemed enough - I think I must find someone to pay it back to very soon...

2 comments:

Dianne said...

this is not how i imagined you'd be celebrating your big day!!! hurray for the kindness of strangers though. pay it forward!

Ms.Nožisková said...

nor me, but it was otherwise a really fun night!