One evening, my father-in-law, George, my husband, and I decided to grab takeout from a popular local burger joint. George was always the authoritative type, quick to assert himself in any situation, often at the expense of others. As we waited for our order, I hoped for a peaceful night, but I should have known better.

When the waiter finally brought us our bag of food, George immediately rummaged through it, pulling out the contents one by one. Suddenly, he scowled and called the waiter back with a booming voice.

“Hey! I ordered four burgers. Why are there only three in this bag?!” George’s face was turning a shade of red that could rival a tomato.
The waiter, a young man who couldn’t have been older than twenty, approached us with a calm and polite demeanor. “Sir, I made sure I put all four burgers in the bag. Let me check again for you.”
George scoffed loudly, making sure everyone in the vicinity heard his disdain. “Are you blind? There are only three! How hard is it to count to four?”

The waiter, maintaining his composure, glanced inside the bag. “I’m very sorry, sir. I’ll get you another burger right away.”

As the waiter hurried back to the kitchen, George smirked triumphantly, basking in the attention his outburst had garnered. He loved asserting his dominance, but little did he know, karma was quietly lurking nearby, ready to strike.

Once we got home, George unpacked the food on the dining table. His triumphant smirk vanished as his face turned white as a sheet. There, among the perfectly wrapped burgers, was a handwritten note tucked discreetly at the bottom of the bag.

“Dear Sir,
In case you find your fourth burger, please remember the people who serve you. We are humans too, deserving of respect and kindness.
– The Waiter”

George’s jaw dropped, and he stammered, “I-I don’t understand. I counted three. There were only three!”

My husband and I exchanged a knowing glance. I picked up the fourth burger and placed it in front of him. “Looks like you were wrong, George. Maybe next time, you should treat people with a bit more respect.”

That night, the lesson hit hard. George realized that his behavior had not only embarrassed himself but had also shown a lack of basic human decency. He spent the rest of the evening in silence, contemplating his actions. From that day on, George made a noticeable effort to be kinder and more respectful to those who served him. It was a small but significant change, a humbling reminder that respect and kindness should always come first. And as for the waiter, he unknowingly became the catalyst for a much-needed change in George’s life, proving that karma always finds its way.