Waitress Nervously Serves Customers with Red Caps, Then Receives a Message
On a January weekend in 2017, Rosalynd Harris was working her shift at a restaurant when a group of men wearing red caps entered. The men appeared relaxed, the typical atmosphere of a civil rights gathering, but they immediately attracted attention. The young waitress was instinctively nervous, fearing they might be looking for trouble.
An Emotional Weekend
The reason Harris initially thought the men might be looking for trouble was not their appearance. She had the emotionally charged weekend in mind, which had consumed the entire city of Washington.
Two major protests had taken place, namely the presidential inauguration and the Women's March - both coinciding on the same weekend. The men with the red caps were obviously attendees of the inauguration.
Not Your Average Waitress
Harris had participated in the Women's March. The 25-year-old waitress was also a professional dancer. She worked two jobs to finance her education and had a strong interest in social justice.
She was the perfect fit for her restaurant called "Busboys and Poets," which had a specific motto - they aimed to make guests from different cultural backgrounds and countries feel comfortable.
Standing Up for Customers
It made sense that all the men with the red caps would leave this restaurant completely silent. Both the other customers and the staff stared at them in disbelief - including Harris.
She had always worked hard, and it was important to her that no drama ensued with the customers. Unexpectedly, Harris realized that her first instinct was wrong, and the interaction would teach her an important lesson.
Quick Judgment
When these special men sat down, Harris quickly concluded that these guests must be visitors from the capital and would celebrate the inauguration extensively.
Haris was right with this assumption - the men were not wearing the red caps for fun, but she would soon learn a lesson. It turns out, not all people can be put into a box, even if they fit a stereotype.
Coming to a Celebration
The group of men had traveled from Texas to actually celebrate the election result. They were excited, and their excessive patriotism was anything but shame.
So, it was not quite surprising that they wore caps with the slogan "Make America Great Again." One of the men was named Jason White, a 37-year-old who was much more than his cap represented.
Texan Republican
Jason and his friends had traveled and visited some notable places, such as Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, all while wearing their red caps.
However, when they attracted so much attention in this restaurant, Jason suddenly realized that they were not exactly welcome there with their red caps. They seemed to have landed at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Taking Off the Caps
Jason advised the entire group of friends to take off their caps, especially since they were now sitting at a table in a restaurant. "I don't want people to think that we're trying to push our political opinions. We're just here to have lunch."
Harris had not mentioned anything about the caps. She was still thinking about the Women's March she had participated in. She approached them to serve them.
The Power of a Smile
Harris handed Jason and his friends menus with a wide smile, and the group smiled back. It didn't take long before they were engaged in a friendly conversation. Jason then explained that they had traveled from West Texas.
Harris didn't seem surprised, mentioning that she could tell from their accent. Jason later admitted that he was glad they could share a laugh.
A Special Restaurant
After breaking the ice, Jason ordered what Harris had recommended and then asked about the history of the restaurant - he had never seen anything like it before. Harris was pleased by his interest and explained everything in detail.
She said that "Busboys and Poets" was named after the poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant before making a name for himself in the world of literature.
Saying Goodbye
After their pleasant conversation, Harris brought their order, which they eagerly enjoyed. They thought that was the end of their encounter, but as Jason and his friends prepared to leave, they bid farewell and thanked their waitress.
Harris returned the greeting and eventually went to the table to clear it. She didn't expect that there would be more to come from this interaction.
An Unexpected Message
Harris noticed that the check had a note attached to it. At first, she didn't think much of it, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was a message specifically for her.
Curiosity piqued, Harris read the words: "We may come from different cultures and may not agree on many things - but those who can share a smile will always find connection."
A Personal Message
With every sentence, Harris became more touched by the message, which had been written with empathy. The message included the words, "No race, no genders. Just Americans.
God bless you!" Harris was amazed at how far her smile had taken her. She was usually upbeat at work, but she had never received such feedback before. However, she was about to be surprised once again.
Generous Tip
The Texan had received a bill of $72.60. Normally, it would be a joyful surprise to receive a 20% tip. However, Jason left an incredibly high tip of $450.
That equated to 625% of his bill. It was simply unbelievable! Jason explained that the tip was a nod to the inauguration and that he hoped they could all look towards the future together.
An Enlightening Experience
Jason hadn't even shared his actions with his friends. He was so happy about the weekend he had experienced in Washington that it didn't matter what political motivation lay behind it, whether it was the inauguration or the Women's March.
Ultimately, it had brought him to "Busboys and Poets." He believed that all American values were represented here and that they provided a foundation for what it meant to be American.
To be Inspired
This experience had inspired Jason to start wondering if he had more in common with other people than their appearance might suggest. Harris had previously only had negative experiences with Texans, and yet she would always put on a smile.
This time, she discovered that they even shared some values. The interaction had inspired Jason to his surprising and kind act.
Touching
Harris was deeply touched by the kind message she had received, as well as the generous tip. She admitted that she had initially seen the men come in with unfair expectations.
Their appearance didn't suggest what truly lay in their hearts. Harris even remarked that Jason "showed more support than other, more liberal friends, and there was true authenticity in their interaction."
Great Relief
For Harris, this tip was a tremendous relief. She was in the process of moving into a new apartment and didn't have enough money to cover all the expenses - the tip came at just the right time.
This day had completely changed her perspective and reminded her never to fear entering a new connection with someone. Many Americans seek connection despite their different political beliefs.
Spreading on the Internet
Both Harris and Jason had kept the interaction between themselves. Nothing became public until Harris' coworker posted a picture of the bill on the internet.
It was fodder for social media. It came as no surprise that the story captured the attention of millions within just a few days. Harris and Jason had the chance to meet once again at Busboys and Poets.
Emotional Meeting
During an interview, Harris and Jason had an emotional conversation via a FaceTime call. They hoped that there wouldn't be any misunderstandings, that no one would think "a white man helping a dark-skinned girl."
The gesture had originated from love and respect for fellow humans, regardless of their appearance. They hoped their story would become an example, urging people to think twice before judging one another.
Shared Values
Jason heartwarmingly explained, "We have to work on becoming better Americans, we have to look within ourselves and think about how we treat each other... if we all just showed a little more respect, we could all love one another."
At the end of the call, they exchanged a virtual hug and blew kisses at each other. It had been an incredibly positive experience for both sides.
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