ABSTRACT
I walked into the corner store to grab a chocolate bar and a bag of chips. As I stepped toward the cashier, a uniformed police officer did so at the same time. I offered to let him go first, but he politely declined with a smile. I watched as he put his coffee on the counter and took out his wallet. The cashier insisted that he did not have to pay and that the coffee was on the house. The officer looked at the lady and said, “Thank you very much. However, you have a business to run, and it would not be fair for me to take it for free.” I was humbled just watching the interaction, although my sentimental feelings did not last long. As I was leaving, a lady stepped up to the counter and angrily demanded, “Do I get a free coffee too?” The response from the cashier was quick and to the point: “When you start protecting me, I will give you a coffee for free also.”
