Manager Dismisses 91-Year-Old Cashier Unaware of the Customer’s Identity After Collecting Leftovers

Watching Closely Watching her scrape the leftover steak and asparagus into the bag, he stood in the shadows. Looking over both shoulders, she grasped a plate of mushrooms and poured the cold food into a bag. Angrily, he stepped closer. A ninety-year-old thief does not happen every day. An Unplanned Visit Pexels A surprise visit by Henry Luc Lenoir that night led to the discovery of an unrecognizably elderly woman taking food from his kitchen. Having Hannah Olsen as manager, he never showed up unannounced, because she kept the place in impeccable condition. In the evening, however, he felt compelled to drive to the restaurant. Late At Night Pexels Henry had strongly considered not going since it was a cold night. A swirling black cloud above the dark cityscape predicted rain that night. He hopped in his car as his watch read 1 a.m. Even so, Henry turned on his car, drove through the night's lazy traffic, and headed for his restaurant regardless of the time and weather. There was no doubt he should have taken action a long time ago after finding what he did. Sneaking In Pexels He arrived at the restaurant with rain dripping from his windshield. In order to remain anonymous, Henry parked a block away and hid under an umbrella. Night shift cleaners usually set up the next day's work after the restaurant closes at 10 p.m. Henry sneaked into the restaurant through the back door without being seen. Henry hoped to see his workers in their natural state when he snuck through the premises like this. As he began his exploration, he had no idea what was in store for him. Prepping For The Next Day Pexels In addition to placing dirty dishes in washers, the cleaning crew was already on-site, making sure everything was clean and hygienic. As the kitchen staff was finishing up the night's work and preparing the meals for the following day, they usually appeared at 9 p.m. Food leftovers would be placed in containers for shelters around the city. Henry learned tonight that not all the leftover food had made it to the shelters. What Was She Doing? Pexels There were parts of the kitchen that were already clean, and the bright lights were turned off in several places. In a dark corner, Henry watched some of the night crew rush out of the kitchen, abandoning the ninety-year-old woman. She stared at the ground for a while, her eyes filled with stemmed tears. Her sigh continued as she walked toward some dirty dishes that hadn't yet been washed. Clearing The Plates Pexels On the first plate she grabbed, there was half a cup of ketchup and half a cup of curly fries. The dish also featured fried mushrooms covered in ranch dressing. After lifting the plate for a moment, she set it aside. Only the grease and sauces were left when she did so, and there were no leftovers. She poured the food into an area Henry wasn't able to see. Caught Red Handed Pexels With quivering brows, he walked to another corner in order to get a better view. Another plate, this time heavy with steak and asparagus, was retrieved by the woman. Her apron held a plastic bag that she slipped the food into before looking over her shoulder at the food. Henry was enraged. It's impossible to believe that someone is stealing from him right in front of him. His Pride And Joy Pexels He loved and worked on the restaurant like it was his own, even though it was inherited from his late dad. In a short amount of time, he'd turned the business from a diner into a well-known and beloved restaurant, quickly becoming a must-visit for tourists in his city. He had devoted more than his blood and sweat to the business, building it as a place for friends and family to share memories. As soon as he saw her stashing food for shelter, he was furious. Confusion Pexels While she reached for another plate, Henry remained within the shadows, watching her. She wasted no time emptying it into her bag, which was stuffed full of leftover gravy and mashed potatoes. She called another cleaner, who asked if she was done, seeming satisfied with her work. The cleaner replied, "Yes," and told her he would finish the job. Was there something going on? In A Hurry Canva In another corner of the kitchen, the woman found a large purse. Putting the food-filled plastic bag inside, she returned to help with the dishes. Soon after, Hannah, the restaurant manager, came in and told her and the other cleaner to hurry up because the restaurant was closing soon. Trailing Her Canva As they wiped the remaining plates, the two nodded in unison. As the elderly woman emerged from the kitchen, she grabbed her purse. Henry snuck out after her as quietly as he had entered. While he had never stalked another person, especially in the dark, he was curious about the woman who had stolen from him. Weathering The Storm Canva Despite her advanced age, the woman did not require a walking aid to traverse the wet street as Henry walked a few paces behind her. As she walked, she held the umbrella firmly, impressing Henry even more. Henry rarely visited this part of town, so she wound her way through different corners. She disappeared into a bus, and he knew he'd lost her for the night. Calling It A Night Canva In an effort to get in touch with Hannah, Henry went back to the restaurant. Despite his best efforts, the place was quieter than a cemetery, with all the doors locked. He had the option of calling her but chose not to. The time was already three in the morning, indicating he should go to bed as soon as possible. As soon as the sun rose, he'd take care of it. He Didn’t Know Her Canva Henry drove to the restaurant as soon as the sun rose, hoping to talk with Hannah. She had been instructed to dispose of leftover food at the restaurant, and he wondered why she was stuffing it into a bag at 2 a.m. All of Henry's workers, even the night shift crew, were usually well known to him. He was angry that he had no idea who she was. She Returns Canva In the restaurant, Hannah was preparing breakfast and lunch as he parked his car outside. Getting Hannah's attention, he motioned to the office to discuss what had happened that night. In the midst of Hannah's rush to him, the elderly woman entered the restaurant, waving at Hannah as she headed toward the kitchen. They Knew Each Other Canva Henry was hesitant to ask Hannah any questions due to her appearance. Her familiarity with Hannah was evident. The previous night, she had left so late that Henry couldn't understand why she had been here so early the next morning. His excuse for coming was that he was leaving the country for a few months that night, so he was saying goodbye. He could tell something was going on behind his back from Hannah's response. Apprehension Canva Henry's departure seemed to excite Hannah too much. Despite his concerns, she assured him that the restaurant would be in good hands. Henry would have believed her if the circumstances had been different. Her many talents had proven invaluable to Henry, and he was glad to have her by his side. He couldn't help but feel apprehensive after everything that happened. Trying To Find Her Canva His goodbyes were said to the cooks, servers, and cleaners as he walked through the kitchen. As he searched the entire building, he couldn't locate the elderly woman. So he quietly walked away rather than make it evident he was looking for someone. Coming back at the right time was important to him. Digging Deeper Canva The woman's name was not found in Henry's worker database after he spent the day searching for her. She was nowhere to be found. According to him, either the woman didn’t work at the restaurant and was stealing food meant for shelters, or she was a recent hire awaiting processing. It didn't matter what she did, Henry had to stop it. He must first catch her in the act. Patience Canva If he caught her, Henry wondered how he would react. Is calling the police on a ninety-year-old excessive? An evening shower took the dark atmosphere away as night covered the city. He took a deep breath. After waiting a few hours, he drove to the restaurant to make sure the food thief was caught. Waiting For Her Canva It was already 1 a.m. when Henry was on his way to the city. His car was parked away from the restaurant as he had done the previous night, and he hurried into the restaurant. The kitchen was mostly dark when he sneaked inside. Knowing history was about to repeat itself, he stood in the same place he had been the previous night. Staying Strong Canva As if by magic, the elderly woman entered the kitchen while others worked. Her heartwarming conversations with them were filled with smiles and laughter. Having found her stories fascinating, Henry wished for a moment to step out from the shadows and talk to her. The stakes were high, however. It was important for him to be strong. Disgust Canva The other cleaners excused themselves as Hannah stepped into the kitchen. In a flat tone, Hannah told the woman to hurry up. “Despicable,” she sneered. She sounded disgusted, and her face contorted. Her eyes grew wet as she turned away from her. However, she wiped them away and went about her business. He Knew It Canva As everything unfolded before his eyes, Henry watched. He had a feeling Hannah might be involved. He confirmed this. In a hurry, the woman stuffed her bag with leftovers and threw them into the washing machine. It was the first time Henry had ever seen someone so sad. A burning curiosity replaced his anger after seeing the scene. It was important for him to know who this woman was. Getting Answers Canva After Hannah finished cleaning up and turning off the lights, he watched her lock the front doors of the restaurant. Henry snuck out and followed the woman. However, he got on the bus at the same time as she did. While alighting outside the city on a dark road, he kept her in sight. Among the crickets chirping around her and the distant sound of thunder bawling through the black sky, she walked quietly to a trailer park. In A State Of Shock Canva A few minutes after entering one of the trailers, Henry heard the sound of kids talking. When they heard someone unwrapping plastic paper, their young voices were filled with joy. A second later, the woman emerged from the trailer, checking a gas pipe before hooking it up. Instead of turning around, she said, "If you're gonna do something bad, do it. But if you don't want to do that, perhaps you can join us for dinner and seek shelter from the storm." Henry froze in fear. Apologizing Canva Henry was filled with guilt as she turned around with a smile. As he awkwardly stepped back, he rubbed his nape. “I’m sorry,” he said. Just now, he realized that the woman didn't know him. He turned to leave, but she insisted he sit down for "at least a cup of coffee." Her voice and smile were soft and welcoming; her eyes were a window to all the world had to offer. The trailer door opened, and Henry stepped inside. Making Dinner Canva During dinner for four kids playing with toys in the trailer's living room, he watched the woman make him a cup of coffee. They didn't look older than ten. When she emptied all the food she got at the restaurant into different containers, she made a mini feast for Henry and the little ones. She shared information about herself as she made the food. Taking Care Of Her Family Canva Kimberly Harker was the woman's name. She was 91 years old. In her living room, she was surrounded by her great-great-grandchildren, her only surviving relatives. An accident had taken the lives of their parents and grandparents a year earlier, leaving them in Kimberly's care. Despite almost a century of age, she welcomed them with open arms. The story didn't end there. Unbelievable Canva Knowing she didn’t have much time left on earth, she’d sold her house and car and put the money in a college fund for all of them. Although too old to get any job, she landed the cleaning position at Henry’s restaurant. Henry was dumbfounded to discover she’d been working double shifts for him for six months. As part of her wage, Hannah allowed her to take leftovers home. Henry couldn’t even speak. He would make Hannah regret the day she decided to go behind his back like this. By morning, Henry had already called a staff meeting at the restaurant. But before the meeting, he called Hannah to the side, telling her to bring all the payment records for the past six months. It was then that Henry discovered Hannah’s true colors. She’d listed Kimberly as an employee and had allocated a full wage for her. But was paying her in leftover food while pocketing the money. Henry nearly lost his mind. Hannah tried to prove her innocence, but the truth was finally out. Henry discovered that she had several other scams in the restaurant, which ensured she stole from him. But none of what he found surpassed his anger at what she’d done to Kimberly. He’d seen firsthand how cruel she was to the woman. He would make amends on her behalf. The first thing Henry did was find a home for Kimberly and the children under her care. He had a few apartments in town and offered them one that wasn’t too far away from the restaurant. As for Kimberly’s work, he couldn’t have her cleaning dishes and taking food in the deep of the night anymore. But he’d tasted her cooking and knew he could use her cooking services. Perhaps he could create a Saturday-only special where she’d be the head chef, blessing the restaurant with the decades of experience under her sleeve. Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.

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