Denied a Drink on the Sidewalk
A bartender poured clear tap water directly down the drain while a man in grease-stained blue work clothes stood holding an empty plastic cup.
The bartender leaned over the counter and waved his hand toward the exit, telling the worker to leave the cafe immediately.
Outside on the sidewalk, the worker leaned his back against a red brick wall.
Dark oil smudges covered his denim jumpsuit, and sweat dripped down his throat onto his collar.
He gripped the dry plastic cup in his hand and rested his head against the hot masonry.
Heat radiated off the asphalt, causing steam to rise around his heavy leather boots as cars passed by on the street.
A Cooler Full of Ice
A blue moped pulled up along the curb, its engine idling quietly beside the curb.
The delivery rider unbuckled his white helmet, wiped his forehead with his forearm, and set the helmet on his handlebars.
His light blue polo shirt was soaked through from working under the afternoon sun.
He walked around to the back of his moped and unlatched the silver insulated box mounted behind the seat.
Inside, dozens of clear plastic bottles sat buried in crushed ice.
The delivery rider pulled out a condensation-covered bottle filled with ice cubes and cold water.
He turned around and held the frosted bottle out toward the man leaning against the brick wall.
The worker looked down at the bottle, his mouth opening slightly before he reached out to accept it.
An Unexpected Arrival
Before the worker could unscrew the cap, a silver luxury sedan pulled up to the sidewalk and stopped beside the moped.
The rear door swung open, and a man dressed in a black suit and white gloves stepped out onto the pavement.
He carried a dark garment bag and a sleek black leather clutch in his hands.
The driver walked straight toward the man in the dirty denim jumpsuit and held out the dark garment bag.
The worker unzipped his greasy jumpsuit, pulled his arms out of the sleeves, and discarded the dirty outer layer into a nearby trash bin.
Underneath, he adjusted his tie as the driver draped a tailored gray three-piece suit jacket over his shoulders.
A Basket on the Scooter
The delivery rider stood still beside his moped, holding his white helmet under his arm as he watched the transformation.
The man in the gray suit reached out and took the black leather clutch from his driver.
He unzipped the top compartment, revealing thick stacks of hundred-dollar bills packed tightly inside.
Instead of slipping the pouch into his jacket pocket, he walked over to the blue moped.
He leaned forward and dropped the leather clutch straight into the wire basket mounted on the front of the scooter.
The delivery rider looked down into his basket, then looked back up at the man standing in the gray suit.
Know someone who always treats people with respect regardless of how they look? Send them this.