No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Yesterday morning on my way to work, I decided to stop by McDonald's to grab breakfast to take to the office with me...a #3 on the Mickey D's menu board...bacon, egg & cheese biscuit, hash browns, and a Diet Coke. (Yeh, I know.)

Now, I don't usually broadcast what I'm about to reveal, but since there is really only a handful of people who actually read my little scribblings, I think I'll risk it. I hesitate only because I do what I do as a means of "paying it forward" -- so to speak -- not because I want any recognition or a pat on the back or anything...it's just something I do.

Anyway, as I was sitting in line, I glanced up in my rearview mirror to see who was behind me in the drive-thru. Occasionally, I get this "little voice" that gives me a nudge and tells me I should buy breakfast for the kind soul or souls in the car behind me. I checked out the lady, and she looked like she could use a "random act of kindness," so after I paid for my breakfast goodies, I asked the young lad who was collecting money how much the order was for the car behind me. I told him I wanted to pay for that order as well and explained that I didn't know the person, just to tell her I said to have a blessed day, then I drove forward to pick up my food and headed on to the office.

Sometimes I glance up in the mirror to see the person's reaction, sometimes I just drive on. Sometimes they honk and wave to express their gratitude, but most of the time, the McDonald's employee is still trying to make them understand what has transpired and I've already collected my food and made a clean get-away.

So, I got to the office and got settled at my desk. I turned on the computer and bid a good morning to the handsome fellow who was staring lustfully at me from the clock frame on my desk and the wallpaper on my PC. I logged on to the terminal server and pulled up the office email and reached into my breakfast bag and got ready to start my day. Only...instead of a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit...I pulled out a sausage and egg biscuit. Disappointed! (Think of Kevin Kline in "A Fish Called Wanda" when he opens the safe to find the diamonds are gone.) I'm not a fan of the sausage and egg biscuit.

Ah well, I guess that was the universe's way of telling me I really didn't need a greasy, calorie-filled, carb-loaded breakfast yesterday morning...or any morning for that matter...regardless of my benevolent gesture. But it did make me wonder...just how many hapless customers arrived at their appointed destination yesterday morning only to discover they had been crapped on by the McDonald's drive-thru fairy. You know...the one that sprinkled magic fairy-dust on their order, turning it into what she wanted them to have instead of what they had their heart...or taste buds...set on.

In the grand sceme of things, it really doesn't matter all that much, I suppose. It's not like it was the first time someone has mucked-up my drive-thru order and it certainly won't be the last. Nor will it deter me in my quest to restore deceny and human kindness...one random act at a time...to this rapidly degenerating world in which we dwell. I may, however, take the time to peek inside my bag before I pull away from the drive-thru...next time.