I lost my wife in 2020 and my son in 2021. A few years later, I was living alone in a retirement complex when I decided to go out one night for dinner. There was a little Vietnamese restaurant nearby that my wife and I used to frequent, which had excellent food and held many happy memories. It just so happened to be Father’s Day.
I dined alone, ordering my usual rice paper rolls. When I went to settle the bill, the lass behind the counter told me my meal had already been paid for.
“What do you mean, paid for?” I asked.
She answered that a couple who had left the restaurant a few minutes before had paid for my meal. She said the lady in that couple had remarked that it was not fair that a man had to sit alone, on Father’s Day, so they picked up the cheque.
I have no idea who they were. I went out into the car park to look around and see if I could spot anyone nearby who might have just left the restaurant, but couldn’t. I’ve got to admit that when I got to my car, I sat inside and had a good weep.
That lady would not have known my circumstances. She knew nothing about me – all she saw was a man eating alone on Father’s Day, and she wanted to do something about it. I am indebted to those strangers who brought a little light to a dark day.
