I think it should be a mandatory part of life to be in the service industry for a year of your life at some point. Preferably earlier on, so it teaches you empathy to what they have to endure day in and day out.
Whether you’ve been a waiter or retail worker, you probably have a story of a customer that made you want to pull your hair out. This story which comes to us from North Carolina is the opposite and about how a waiter went above and beyond the call of duty.
Lee Bondurant, a 51-year-old man who lives with cerebral palsy was dining at a restaurant one night. Now Bondurant is usually quite independent, and doesn’t really need help during his day-to-day life. The only problem is eating can be a bit difficult since he has limited use of his hands.
Bondurant had gone out to 42nd Street Oyster Bar to have dinner with his mother Linda. She was helping feed Lee but their waiter came over and offered something so selfless, he went viral.
Five (yes that’s his name, he’s cousins with Millie Bobby Brown), is the waiter who came over two the two diners and asked if Lee had ever had oysters. Linda said:
“He casually came over and asked Lee if he had ever had oysters… Lee told him he had not. So, [Five] asked [if he] could he serve him his first. It was smooth not to embarrass Lee. Just offering [to] share in the experience.”
Lee wrote on Facebook:
“When you dine at 42nd Street Oyster Bar please ask for a server by the name of “FIVE” He saw me trying to eat and help Lee. He insisted on helping showing Lee total respect. Let’s me know there are still decent and compassionate people left in our country.”
What an amazing act of kindness, and yes it’s great to see compassionate people in this country for sure.
Even though this happened two years ago, there is constant love shown on this Facebook post.
A few commenters said things like:
“May God continue to bless you with love and kindness for your fellowmen. May you be blessed”
“If you are in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, or passing through this summer, be sure to drop in and visit the 42nd Street Oyster Bar. These are people who know how to treat another human being.”
“I will be requesting FIVE!!! What an awesome young man!!”
I bet after this post went viral, Five was the most requested waiter in North Carolina!
Five didn’t have a Facebook page, so he had to be told by his manager that his act of kindness was going viral. Imagine that someone doing something nice and not being affected by the likes!
He said, “Shares and likes? I had to ask people ‘what does this stuff mean?’ I’m going into the gas station and somebody wants to buy me gas, I’m like no! I’ve gotten letters from Austria, Australia, Canada, different states. I’ve never gotten that much attention in all my life.”
Recently Lee and Five got together at the restaurant to celebrate Lee’s birthday one more time.
