Tyler, one of our coworkers, didn’t even hesitate. “Then I guess he better fire me,” he said when I told him Sam wouldn’t let us sit with her. He brought over Miss Helen’s favorite chocolate croissants, Emily added fresh flowers, and soon our whole team gathered around her, sharing stories, laughter, and love. She opened up about her past—childhood birthday pranks, serving coffee to someone who may have been Elvis, meeting her husband at a pie-eating contest.
We made her feel seen, and in return, she gave us a piece of her beautiful history. When the café’s owner, Mr. Lawson, walked in and saw it all, even he pulled up a chair and joined us. That moment changed everything—he later promoted me to manager of a new location and rewarded the team for showing real hospitality. Miss Helen still comes in every day, always with a flower for the counter. And now, no matter what day it is, we never let her sit alone again.