It was just a typical Wednesday night for couple Lowe and Andre Petties – they were having some dinner with their daughter, Journee, at Frenchy’s Chicken in Richmond Avenue, Houston. It was just an ordinary night until Lowe noticed something that was quite extraordinary.
Wednesday nights were particularly busy for the restaurant. On Wednesdays, they have their 2-piece chicken special, and, as expected, the place is full of customers.
The lines are long, and among the customers waiting in line is a woman with a three-year old girl. When it was the woman’s turn to order, she requested to speak to the manager privately.
Ahmed Elmadhoun, the manager, came to talk to the woman.
Apparently, she wanted to order the 2-piece chicken special – but she doesn’t have the money to pay for it yet. She told Ahmed she would come back and pay the next day when she receives her Income Tax Return.
The lady offered her IDs: her social security card as well as her driver’s license. She said there were more of her grandchildren at home who are hungry, but she just doesn’t have the money to buy food for them all. She doesn’t have any gas left, either.
Instead of accepting her IDs, Ahmed told her to hold on to them and made his way back to the kitchen. He cooked 25 pieces of fried chicken, added some sides, put some bread, drinks, and basically everything he can. And he paid for it himself.
He gave the woman the bag of food and asked the girl if she wanted some dessert. The little girl said she wanted some lemon cake, so he gave her that, too.
The woman was embarrassed because of her situation, and Ahmed told her not to be, because everyone goes through tough times.
Ahmed even told the lady that if she ever encountered this situation again, she should come back.
Lowe witnessed what has happened, along with other customers. Her husband and another regular customer of Frenchy’s filled the woman’s car with gas to be able to help in some way, too.
Lowe was so moved that she posted what Ahmed did in her Facebook account:
Ahmed’s story of kindness has quickly spread through the internet that even local news stations featured him:
“That makes me really happy they went home and all ate,” Elmadhoun said. “We all need a little help now and then.”
In our world today where depressing news are present almost daily, it’s refreshing to know that there are still some people left in this world who are willing to lend a hand to others – without expecting anything in return.
The woman just hoped for some food to feed just one of her grandchildren that night, but because of Ahmed and other good-hearted people, she was able to ease the hunger of all her grandchildren.
They say that “Do good, and good will come to you.”, which is nice, but wouldn’t it be better if we just do good – not only because we are hoping that good will come to us, too?