He laughed when I explained that I was having a bad skin day, and soon we were both laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
His name was Luis, and he explained that he carried extra paper towels, reusable bags, and other supplies because restaurant packaging was not always reliable. Rain could ruin paper bags, soup containers sometimes leaked, and many customers had no covered porch where their food could be left safely.
When I asked why he went to so much trouble, he simply replied, “Because people paid for dinner.”
His answer stayed with me. He did not give a long speech about kindness or customer service. He simply believed that if someone paid for a meal, they deserved to receive it in good condition.
I offered him an extra tip, and although he insisted that I did not have to, I added twenty dollars. Before leaving, he reminded me not to run barefoot outside during a storm. I promised to be more careful, and he returned to his car.
