bex77: (Default)
bex77 ([personal profile] bex77) wrote2009-10-05 06:52 pm

Stories from students

I have the privilege of working with college students and grad students - such a smart, fun bunch. They tell me stories. Today's was strange and wonderful.

Mr. Law Student went out for dinner in the North End with a friend Friday night. They decided to live it up, ordering a $60 bottle of wine, appetizers, lobster dinner and after awhile, dessert. They braced for a big bill, and were puzzled when it arrived in the amount of $7.49. When they questioned the waiter, he said, "No, that's right. It's for dessert." They reminded the waiter that they'd had a full dinner and wine. "Oh," he replied, "the couple at the other table paid for your dinner." Stunned, they looked over, and saw no one. "Oh, they left awhile back," the waiter added. "Why would they pay for our dinner?" they asked. "Don't know...just told me to add your tab to theirs."

No one in the office has ever heard of such a thing. Sure...drinks for everyone at a bar, or someone paying the toll for the next 10 cars behind them...but not this. We puzzled over various scenarios, trying to figure out why someone would do that. Paying it forward? Just won the lottery? Because they can? Wow.
dpolicar: (Default)

[personal profile] dpolicar 2009-10-05 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
That's wonderful.

[identity profile] trinalin.livejournal.com 2009-10-05 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Someday I'd like to be the type of person who can do that. I already try to tip at least 20% when I'm out. But it would be fun to tip more and/or pay for someone else's meal. One day, I shall. :-)
muffyjo: (Default)

[personal profile] muffyjo 2009-10-05 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
That's utterly fantastic!

[identity profile] swiftangel.livejournal.com 2009-10-06 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
A similar thing happened to me at the Kinsale at Government Center. A guy and his son who were sitting at the other end of the bar saw me with a food menu and told the barmaid that they wanted to pay for my food. They left before I could ever thank them.