In May I was at the airport in San Francisco. I was hungry and I knew they weren't serving any food on my flight so I stopped by the sandwich shop at the end of the gate. The line was pretty long and it moved really slow.
There was a women ahead of me in line. She was pretty, likely in her late twenties or early thirties. She was not terribly different in any regard than any of the people in the airport gate. She got to the head of the line and was ready to pay for her sandwich when the cashier looked at the credit card she was holding and said "Do you have cash? Our credit card machine is broken." The woman reluctantly handed back her food and said she didn't have any cash and that she would have leave her food and catch her flight. (If crestfallen weren't such an ostentatious word to use, I would use it to describe her.) The employee offered to try her credit card. I think the cashier did it more in an effort to humour her. I don't think anyone in line thought her credit card would work.
While the woman waited, hoping for the best, worried about her soon to depart flight, I offered to buy her lunch.
The conversation went something like this.
P.S. In case you are wondering if I expensed it, the answer is no.
Me: Tell you what, if it doesn't work, how about I pay for it?
Her: I couldn't do that.
Me: Why not? There is no obligation. We'll never see each other again. I don't know you, you don't know me. There are no strings attached. You can't repay me. Nothing would make me happier.
Her: Are you serious?
Me: I am. Why not? Let me do this.
Her: I'm not sure.
Me: What's the harm. Let me do this. There are no strings attached. You don't even owe me so much as a conversation.
Her: You're serious, you would do this. You're sure about this.
Me: Honestly, it would be my pleasure. No strings attached. You'll never see me again.
Her: Really
Me: Yes, really. I would love to do this.
Cashier: I'm sorry our credit card machine still doesn't work.
Her: This nice man is paying for my lunch, can you believe that?
Her: [To no one in particular, but louder.] This nice man is paying for my lunch.
Her: I just realized there was no food on my flight, so I wanted to get a sandwich. Maybe you can expense it?
Me: It's a gift, don't worry about it. Have a nice flight.
The best part of this story was seeing her entire outlook changed in front of my eyes. She knew quickly that I wasn't trying to get something from her. She knew there was no way to pay me back. She went from hungry, frustrated and a little overwhelmed to extremely happy. She looked so thoroughly happy. I thought for a second she might even cry or hug me or do something awkward.
All it cost me was eight bucks. I felt like a million, and I'm guessing she felt pretty happy too. I know I was happy for a week just thinking about it.
I love the fact that she can't repay me. She might pass on the good deed, but that's her business. I required nothing from her, not even a conversation. The truth is that I don't ever want to be paid back it would diminish the pleasure I got from giving.
Getting to give a gift like this, though very small, was unforgettable.
P.S. In case you are wondering if I expensed it, the answer is no.
