Jessie had spent years working as a waitress at a busy local restaurant, balancing the demands of her job with the responsibilities of being a mother to five children. Every day was exhausting, but she endured it all to help support her family.
On her very first day, she was given a task that no one else wanted—serving the notoriously grumpy Mr. Norton at Table 13.
“It’s just an old man,” she had said, puzzled by her coworkers’ reluctance.
Mark, one of the senior waiters, had only chuckled. “Oh, honey. He’s terrible. No one likes to serve him. But since you’re new, you get the honor.”
Jessie shrugged off the warning. She figured she could handle one cranky old man.
But she quickly learned how wrong she was.
The moment she approached his table with a bright smile, he scoffed.
“Who are you?” he demanded, as if her mere presence was offensive.
“I’m Jessie. What can I get you to drink?” she asked, keeping her tone polite.
“I always get the same thing! Iced tea! Not too cold, not too sweet, two lemon wedges, and a straw. Not one of those stupid paper straws, either!” he barked.
Jessie nodded and got to work, but no matter how carefully she followed his instructions, he always had something to complain about. Too sweet. Too cold. Not enough lemon juice. The straw was too flimsy.
“We only have paper straws now,” she explained as patiently as she could.
“Stupid, softy generation,” he muttered. “Fine. I’ll have the lasagna.”
And so it went. Every single day, he found something to criticize. No matter how well she served him, there was always something wrong.
At the end of the shift, she sighed. “I should’ve listened to you,” she admitted to Mark.
“Yeah,” he laughed. “But someone’s gotta deal with him.”
Over the years, Jessie became that someone. She was the only one willing to serve Mr. Norton, and though his grumpiness never faded, she developed a way of handling him. She learned his habits, tolerated his moods, and even discovered bits and pieces about his life.
No matter how much he grumbled, he always left a solid 15% tip.
One day, however, there was no tip.
Instead, on the table, there was a key and a note.
Jessie frowned as she picked them up. Something felt wrong.
She unfolded the paper and read the message:
“Dear Jessie, thank you for putting up with this old grump for so long. I’m going to a special facility for hospice now, so I won’t be back. This is the key to my house. It’s yours. I’ll leave my lawyer’s card so you can officially arrange everything. Goodbye, dear. P.S. My tea was too sweet, but I didn’t complain. See? My time is coming.”
Jessie’s hands shook. His house? Why would he leave her his house?
She knew he had a family. Why wouldn’t he leave it to them?
Her heart pounding, she called the lawyer listed on the note and asked for the name of the hospice. She needed answers.
The moment she saw Mr. Norton at the hospice, her breath caught in her throat. He looked so much frailer than she had ever realized. The grumpy old man who had tormented her for years now seemed small and fragile.
“Why would you do this?” she asked, unable to hold back the tears. “What about your children?”
He chuckled, his voice weaker than she had ever heard it. “My children hate me. Haven’t spoken to them in years. I was a grump to everyone in my life. You were the only person who ever put up with me—with a smile. So, keep the house. It’s big. It should belong to a family that knows how to be patient with old things.”
Jessie wiped her tears. She hadn’t even realized how much she had grown attached to this old man, but the idea of never seeing him again was too much.
That weekend, she brought her children to visit. And for the first time in years, she saw something she never thought possible.
Mr. Norton smiled.
A real, genuine smile.
Weeks later, he passed away peacefully.
As promised, the house became Jessie’s. His lawyer explained that his estranged family had refused to claim anything, so his entire estate was left to her.
There wasn’t much money, but the house? The house was a blessing.
Her children were thrilled to have their own rooms. Her husband, Bob, finally had a space to rest after his long work shifts. Their financial struggles eased, and life became a little less difficult.
In honor of Mr. Norton, Jessie and her family started volunteering at a local senior center. She always made a special effort to spend time with the grumpiest residents.
She knew their type well.
She knew they were grumpy for a reason.
And every time she met one, she thought of the man who had changed her life—without even realizing it.