By Heidi Hess
I was on my second chicken tender when I noticed the large group of high school cheerleaders. I was mid dip into my Cane’s sauce when they started hooting and hollering. Honestly, their behavior didn’t bother me. I was once a teenage girl and was known to be quite loud and obnoxious when out with the Drama Club. It comes with the age. They didn’t stay long but the trail of trash they left for someone to clean up sure did.
Did I mention that it was a nice day? The temperatures have been mild, blue skies and sunshine. Sitting outside enjoying the day, I dunked my chicken again and greedily shoved into my mouth just as a teenage boy came out and sat down. He took his Cane’s baseball cap off and proceeded to set up his food. He was clearly on his lunch break. The mess the girls’ had left was two tables down, but he stopped, kinda shook his head, and threw all their trash away. I watched this and asked if he was in fact on this lunch break. He was. His name is McKinley, and he works at Cane’s in Boynton Beach.
Now, as parents, you and I both know kids. We know that they tend to be messy creatures, but we try to teach them to clean up after themselves. This young man not only cleaned up his mess, but some other kids mess as well. Now, you are going to say “Well, he works there. It’s his job.” Might I remind you that he was in fact on his lunch break?
It was a small gesture but, as silly as it sounds, it filled me with hope. He was doing something good. Any other teenage employee would have eaten their lunch and THEN maybe cleaned up the mess, but he did it right away, without being asked. Now THERE is the person I want working for me. He’s working at a fast-food restaurant and took ownership of a problem and fixed it. We need more people like that.
I finished up my food, spoke to him and thanked him for going above and beyond. I then proceeded to pull an Anti-Karen, and this is what I’m challenging you and your kids with this holiday season: I asked to speak to the manager. Not to complain but to point out someone doing something good. Will he get a gift card or kudos? Yes. Knowing this made me smile. I hope it made him smile too.
The holidays are stressful – for everyone. What if you had the power to make just one person feel better? Would you do it? I think so. Pull an Anti-Karen and say a kind word, do a kind thing. You just don’t know where people are at, and this could make all the difference.