On the night of the event, she shrank behind a bouquet when she recognized the same waiter approaching. His expression changed instantly when he saw her — and then again when he realized who I was.
After a flawless meal (the staff knew exactly who was in charge), I stood up and asked the waiter to explain what we expect of customer service. Nervously, he talked about respect and treating guests like family. Then, I shared the truth with my family: I was now the owner of the restaurant.
My grandmother smiled through tears as I offered the waiter two choices — walk away with a month’s salary, or stay and go through customer service retraining. To his credit, he chose to stay. Months later, he’s one of our best employees — respectful, kind, and the first to offer Grandma a warm tea and fresh breadsticks whenever she visits.
That night changed a lot for us. Not just because my grandmother got the celebration she deserved, but because it reminded us all what really matters: kindness, respect, and standing up for the people who taught us what those things mean.