This is a story that reinforces our belief in humanity. Humanity is not good, it is awesome!
Ethan Crispo, 24, has been a regular at the Waffle House restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. And on 3rd November, when he was hungry post a friend’s birthday party, he went to his regular eat out place.
When he reached Waffle House at half-past midnight, he saw that there were around 30 customers waiting! Disappointed that he would not be served his waffle due to such a big waiting queue, he peeked to see what the issue was. And Crispo noticed that there was just one employee that was cooking the food, serving the patrons, taking orders, and doing the dishes.
“The look on his face was maybe fear, maybe shock, maybe bewilderment,” Crispo said in an interview to Washington Post of the employee, whose name tag said he was ‘Ben.’
But what happened later astonished Crispo!
Crispo noticed Ben speak to a customer in a nice blue shirt seated at a counter. Then, he noticed Ben hand over an apron to him and in the next instant, the customer jumped in and started doing the dishes to help Ben!
“It was a transition so smooth I initially assumed it was a staff member returning to their shift,” Crispo wrote in an email he gave The Post. “It wasn’t. It was a kind stranger. A man who answered the call. Bussed [sic] tables, did dishes, stacked plates.”
Very soon after, another customer in a sequined dress and heels walked behind the counter, figured out how to use the coffee maker and began making coffee for the other customers. She also pitched in to clean the tables!
Pat Warner, the Director of PR and External Affairs of the restaurant, admitted that there had been a miscommunication in the scheduling of employees that night. As a result, while some of the employees left the restaurant post their shift, their replacements did not turn up, leaving Ben to be the only one to manage all the customers.
Warner said that the CCTV footage did show customer doing the dishes and clearing and cleaning the tables.
“We really appreciate their efforts . . . though we do prefer our associates to be behind the counter,” Warner told AL.com. “The key to our concept is, we’re there to serve you, not the other way around.”
The cherry on the cake was that Crispo did finally get his waffle. But what is more heartwarming is how all the customers stood up to help a lone man trying to serve them! It really is true that we stand united, and fall divided!
Isn’t this a story that restores your faith in humanity? Share your views with us in the comments section below!
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