I found myself in an odd situation today.
I had to go out to get a haircut.
It was a last-minute thing, and I figured my regular lady wouldn’t be able to fit me in.
So, I headed a few exits up to Cullman, Alabama, to get my hair cut.
While in Cullman, I decided to eat at one of the Buffet Restaurants. I love an excellent Buffet.
I walk in and go up to the register.
At the register is a younger female. She’s probably a College Student.
I tell the lady I want one Buffet and one Iced Tea with Lemon.
She rings it up and says, “That’ll be $10.50, sir.”
Knowing that the price is wrong, I say, “That’s too cheap. You didn’t charge me enough.”
She replies, “That’s the Senior Citizen Discount Price.”
Now…, (I felt an ellipses was needed) …I’m in a quandary.
Do I (a) Tell her I’m only 48, which in her mind is probably “Old.”
Or do I (b) Take the discount and move on?
The brain is very fast. Swift.
While driving down the interstate, the brain can calculate everything you see with your eyeballs in a nanosecond. Very fast. Extremely fast. —Except when deciding moral things. Such as doing Right instead of Wrong. Moral decisions slow the thought process down.
I stand there looking at the Buffet, which stands off in the distance. I think.
Then, I check my wallet to see if I have any Cash to leave for a tip.
I have two $5’s and several $1’s.
I think to myself, “I could give the discount as a tip, plus the tip I was gonna leave anyway.”
—The Cashier is waiting for me to swipe my Debit Card during all of this.
“She thinks I’m old,” I keep thinking.
I know the Senior Discount Age used to be 65, but I think it got lowered to 60. I figure it’s no lower than 55, and I’m 48.
“Am I being Vain if I correct her?” I ponder.
I continue pondering: “I think Vanity is a sin—so is cheating the price. I’m in a no-win situation here.”
I rethink taking the discounted price and giving the extra money to the Waitress as part of the tip.
I keep looking at the Buffet that sits off in the distance.
The Cashier continues waiting for me to swipe my Debit Card.
Ultimately, I remembered that the Holidays were getting close, and the Waitress could probably use the extra money. —And I swiped my Card.
