Last Saturday evening, my parents and I decided to eat out for dinner. We settled on a restaurant on Jiangsu Road and went in.

After we seated ourselves, we saw an elderly lady at the next table dining alone. It was clear that she had special needs. In time, the lady finished her meal. She walked shakily to the counter to pay. After the waitress swiped her credit card through their POS machine several times, she found it simply did not respond.

Then she explained to the senior citizen that there was something wrong with her plastic and that it could not function at the moment. Embarrassed and groggy, the elderly lady was at a loss what to do next. After putting the customer at ease, the waitress called her manager in.

In short order, the boss arrived on the scene. After learning about the matter, he turned to the lady, explaining that though she could not use her credit card, there was no cause for worry because their restaurant gives away two free meals each week to their lucky customers. He announced on the spot that the lady was one of their lucky customers of the week, so the meal was on the house.

Upon reflection, I think the restaurant staff, especially the manager, should be commended for their consideration. I really appreciate the tact with which the business handled the special case.

No one is immune to the vagaries of the world. If we can, like the manager, offer a helping hand without a trace of condescension, in times of need, then the world will certainly be a better place.