John was recovering from surgery and fighting a severe cold, so all he wanted was a simple supper. However, when a delivery driver fled with his lunch over a $9 tip, John’s rage transformed into a viral life lesson that shocked the town and drew the attention of a nationwide delivery service. I still can’t believe what happened last week. I’m 45 years old, recovering from surgery, and I have a cold. My wife Karen was abroad on business, and the children were staying with friends. I was home alone and sad.
The living room was poorly illuminated. I laid on the couch, wrapped in a blanket with tissues all about me. My throat was itchy, and I had trouble keeping my eyes open. The aroma of the medicine cupboard lingered in the air from all the medications I’d taken. “Excellent,” I mumbled, reaching for another tissue. „Exactly what I need right now.” I had not eaten much all day.
The prospect of cooking dinner was overwhelming—I could barely stand without feeling faint. The fridge only had some old leftovers that resembled a botched science experiment because I was too tired to prepare and too unwell to drive. I choose to order food. I grabbed my phone and launched the delivery app. My favorite deli was only a few blocks away. Chicken noodle soup and a turkey sandwich sounded ideal—something light to soothe my tummy after all that medication.
I placed the order and added a $9 tip, which I believed was appropriate, especially since I had instructed the driver to leave the meal at the door. I did not want to risk spreading my cold. Approximately 20 minutes later, I received a notification: “Your order has arrived.” I slowly got up from the couch, hurting as my sutures pulled slightly. I shuffled towards the entrance, expecting to find the bag on the welcome mat. However, what I saw confused me.
The delivery driver, a man in his twenties, stood there carrying the bag while gazing at his phone. Then, to my amazement, he said, “Nine bucks? Are you kidding me? People are quite stingy.” Before I could understand what was going on, he shrugged and stated, “I guess this broke guy can stay hungry,” before walking away with my lunch.
I was in disbelief. Had he truly snatched my lunch because he disliked the tip? Anger, fury, and helplessness poured over me. Trying to remain calm, I reported the event using the delivery app and included a video from my doorbell camera. After a brief conversation, they refunded me and informed me that they would look into the driver.
But I couldn’t let go. I called the deli and informed them of the problem. Sam, the manager, understood and offered to follow up with the delivery service. Feeling dissatisfied, I blogged about the situation in our local Facebook group to alert others. The tweet went viral, and others responded with amusing and caustic advice for the motorist. The event even drew the attention of the delivery company, which called out to apologize and confirm disciplinary action against the driver.
In the end, I didn’t want to ruin the driver’s life; all I wanted was for him to learn his lesson. When my reordered lunch arrived, it came with a handwritten message that said, “Get well soon, John. “We have your back.” That simple act, combined with the community’s support, enhanced the meal’s flavor.