Once upon a time, on a stormy evening, an old lady named Linda Meyers found herself caught in a sudden downpour. The rain fell so heavily that she was completely soaked in just moments. Her lovely hair, once perfectly styled, was now a wet mess, and her clothes clung to her skin.
She needed a place to stay until the rain stopped, so she hurried to the nearest café, a fancy place known for its celebrity guests.
As she approached the entrance, a stern-looking porter stepped in her way. “Excuse me, ma’am,” he said with a dismissive tone, “but this café is exclusive. You need a reservation to enter.” He looked Linda up and down, his eyes filled with judgment. “Honestly, it seems you can’t afford to dine here anyway,” he added, sneering.
Linda felt her cheeks burn with anger. “Please, call the manager!” she demanded, hoping for a better outcome. But when the manager, a man named Simon, arrived, he only echoed the porter’s rude words. “Ma’am,” he said, crossing his arms, “I’m hosting over a hundred guests right now. Let’s not waste our time. You need to leave.”
“I just need a place to wait until the rain stops. I promise I’ll order something!” Linda pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice.
Simon shook his head. “You look like that,” he said, pointing at her damp clothes, “and you’ll scare away our customers.” With that, Linda had no choice but to leave, her heart heavy with frustration.
The next day, when Simon arrived at the café, he found the owner waiting for him. “Simon, today is very important!” the owner exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “We have special guests coming—my friend and his wife. They might buy this café, so everything must be perfect!”
Simon quickly gathered the waiters, instructing them on how to prepare for the VIP guests. He was determined to impress. Later that evening, when the guests arrived, the owner introduced Simon with great pride. “This is our manager, Simon. He’s excellent at his job and very kind,” he said, smiling.
To Simon’s shock, the woman sitting at the table smiled back at him. “Very nice indeed. I can see that he is exactly the way you described him,” she said warmly. To his horror, Simon realized that the woman was Linda—the same woman he had turned away just the night before!
Linda noticed Simon’s shocked expression and turned back to the owner. “You have a wonderful café and such lovely staff. My husband and I are delighted to buy this place!” she announced.
The next day, Linda and her husband arrived at the café to see how it was run. They wanted to meet the staff and learn about the daily operations. When Linda spotted Simon, she approached him with a serious expression. “Simon, my husband and I have decided to demote you to a waiter,” she said. “The way you treated me the other night was unacceptable.”
Simon’s heart sank as he was handed an apron and a tray. He felt humiliated but knew he had to keep his job.
A few days later, a poor old woman entered the café. She looked tired and hungry as she sat down and ordered a simple sandwich and a hot cup of tea. After finishing her meal, she looked worried as she fumbled through her purse. “Oh no! I must have left my wallet at home,” she said, her face turning pale.
“I’m so sorry! I can wash the dishes or clean the café—anything to repay you!”
Simon felt a wave of compassion. He smiled gently and replied, “Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll pay for your meal this time.”
The old woman’s eyes lit up with gratitude. “Thank you so much! You’re very kind,” she said, her voice trembling with relief.
“It’s no problem at all,” Simon replied, his heart warming. “People should help each other. Just a few days ago, the new owner of this café gave me a second chance because she is a kind person. I want to be like her. After all, I believe in karma.”
“I think you will become a manager again,” the woman said, smiling knowingly. Simon was puzzled; how did she know about his demotion? Just then, Linda approached their table, a twinkle in her eye.
“This woman is my friend,” Linda said, looking at Simon. “I wanted to see if you’ve learned your lesson, and I’m happy to say that you have! You can return to your managerial duties effective immediately,” she said, giving him a friendly tap on the back.
Simon’s face lit up with joy. He had never experienced such kindness before! “Thank you so much, Linda! I won’t let you down!” he promised, feeling grateful for the second chance.
From that day on, Simon arrived at work with a big smile on his face. He loved his job and felt motivated to make the café a better place. He treated his staff and customers with respect, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The café thrived under the new ownership, and Simon’s positive attitude helped it become even more successful.
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