Photo by browniesfordinner 
The day after Thanksgiving, my brother Dave went to town in search of a pumpkin pie. Because he and his wife had spent Thanksgiving in the ER with their sick daughter, they’d only grabbed some leftovers at his in-laws late that night before heading home.
“It sure would be nice to have a pumpkin pie,” his wife said before leaving for work the next morning. But when Dave checked the local stores, they were all out.
He then tried a nearby restaurant, known for its pies. While waiting in line and looking at pies in a display window, two people crowded in front of him. Not wanting to wait longer, he asked a waitress, “Do you have pumpkin pie?” But she was too busy. He spotted a boy cleaning tables and asked him. “Let me go in back and check,” he helpfully volunteered. “Thanks,” Dave said. “We didn’t really have a Thanksgiving.” Moments later, the boy proudly returned with a pumpkin pie. But Dave’s happiness lasted only a moment.
“You’re not suppose to bring that out!” hollered the manager as she took the pie. “That’s the last pumpkin pie we have!”
The whole restaurant was now watching as the boy explained that Dave’s family didn’t have Thanksgiving dinner.
“Why didn’t you?” she snapped.
After Dave finished telling their story, she left and came back—not only with the pie in a box, but a unopened can of whipping cream.
“Have a wonderful Thanksgiving,” she said warmly. Dave offered to pay, but she wouldn’t have it. He offered a tip, but she said, “You don’t tip gifts.”
“She changed every person in that place,” Dave said as he recalled the story. One woman’s act of kindness reminded the entire restaurant what the holidays are all about. Kindness. Giving. Sharing.
—Written by Nancy Canwell