That time the sandwich shop guy made me cry

I rarely go out for lunch during the work week. 99% of the time I bring my own lunch - pretty much leftovers or a salad made at home. But occasionally, I go grab lunch somewhere near my office because nothing at home appeals to me to bring for a lunch.

Several weeks ago my husband had to go to Indonesia for work. He had a connecting flight in Australia and had a bit of a layover there. While he was there, he used our joint credit card. Because of that, our account was flagged and frozen. It was unknown to me, as it happened in the wee hours of the night, back here in Wisconsin.

That morning I decided to have the rare treat of getting out of the office to grab lunch. There is a sandwich place just down the road from my office. And because there isn't really any "fast food" places near my office, this place is usually my default place to go. They do have good sandwiches. I've been there many times in the nine years I've been working at my office.

Just before lunch I was cleaning out my wallet and for reasons I don't remember, or can't even fathom what I was thinking, I took my cash and my bank card out of my wallet and set them on my desk. I really can't remember my reasoning. I think I was planning at stopping at the bank after work, but I don't know why I took my cash and card out. I rarely use my bank card, but always have it with me. Except this time.

I ordered my sandwich, chatted with the cashier a little, then handed over my card to pay. He told me my card was declined. Automatic panic from me. That is a horrible, sinking feeling. My first thought was, "Someone stole our information and maxed out the card." Then I remembered that my husband had a layover in Australia. I said to the cashier, "My husband is traveling home from Indonesia and I bet he used the card at his stop in Australia. It must have been flagged." In my heart of hearts, I was certain that was the problem. Then I remembered that I had taken my bank card and cash out of my wallet and I had NOTHING. Another sinking feeling. I was so embarrassed. I said, "I have no other card or cash. I can't pay for this." My sandwich was made by now and waiting for me at the end of the counter. "I have to leave my lunch here," I said. As I was saying these words the cashier reached in his back pocket, took out his wallet and swiped his card so fast that I barely had time to protest. "Don't worry about it," he said. "No," I said, "you don't have to do that." "Too late. I already did it." Tears instantly sprung to my eyes. Out of both gratitude and embarrassment. "No," I said through tears. I could barely look at him. "Yep," he said, "Have a great day." I whispered, "Thank you," because anything above a whisper would have been the sound of a crying mess. I kind of half nodded at the additional two workers behind the counter and said, "Thank you," without trying to look them in the eye too much. I was so embarrassed that I was so emotional over the whole thing. I was in a vicious cycle of embarrassment!

I have paid for strangers' meals before, but I have never had a stranger pay for mine. It was a random act of kindness that I'll never forget.