Note: This story was originally reported in October 2015.
Lauren Ball, a server at a Waffle House in Kingsport, Tennessee, was nearing the end of her 4 a.m. shift when a late-night customer walked in. Tired and ready to go home, she had no idea the encounter would become unforgettable. At the time, Ball was facing financial stress after paying for her 2-year-old son’s birthday party and preparing for a trip to Florida with her father.
On a typical Wednesday night, she expected to earn about $30 to $60 in tips. After chatting kindly with two customers, Ball stepped outside for a cigarette. One of the men told her his friend planned to leave a large tip, but she didn’t believe him. When she returned inside, she discovered he was telling the truth.
According to local reports, the customer left a $600 tip — something Ball had never experienced before. “It took my breath away,” she said. “It made me sick to my stomach, but in a good way.” Staff gathered to confirm the tip was real, and when Ball saw the man leaving, she ran outside, hugged him, and tearfully thanked him.
She asked why he would do such a generous act for a stranger. His simple reply: he liked doing nice things for good people. Ball says she will never forget the gesture and hopes one day to pay the kindness forward, inspired by a moment that changed her life.
