So this incident actually happened back in March. It was one of those things I had always planned on putting in my blog (once I had one that is) simply because I think things like this are too important to go unmentioned. What the hell am I talking about you ask? Well here’s the story….

I stopped by the Taco Bell in Emeryville after hitting up Home Depot one night. As I was standing around waiting for my order I see the cashier (kid in his late teens) go to the back and start to prepare food. I found this a bit surprising considering it was just me and these two haggard little kids (10-13ish yrs old) who had just ordered and there was already a guy back there preparing the food. Regardless, I dismissed the thought and continued to wait. Before my food was handed to me, the cashier returned with a few bags of nachos, tacos and other random Taco Bell delectables and handed them to the kids.

My first thoughts were, “Hey these kids ordered after me… how are they getting their food first?” and “Wow these kids must have ordered a lot of food.” I didn’t really care too much since I wasn’t in a rush or anything; my curiosity was just peaked.

As soon as the kids got the bags, one of them exclaimed, “We didn’t order all this food! We just had one taco! We can’t afford to pay for this!”. To this the cashier calmly and matter-of-factly responded, “Oh don’t worry, its part of our inventory surplus; it’s free, so you kids enjoy.” As one might imagine, the kids were pretty overjoyed.

I walked out of there a little bit choked up, and a little bit in awe of this Taco Bell cashier. This was one of the most genuine/spontaneous acts of kindness I’ve ever witnessed. (The only other incident that moved me this much that I can recall occurred in Germany and involved an elderly Turkish man, the mother of a neo-nazi, and oddly enough me). But that’s a story for another time…

Anyhow, major props to the Taco Bell Guy for having a greater sense of social responsibility in his teens than many people ever will.