Jenny only shrugged. “That’s fine. I remember being hungry too.”
Jenny never asked his name. His careful way of sitting, his watchful eyes, told her questions might push him away. Instead, she made sure his glass stayed full and his food warm. Over time, his shoulders seemed less tense, and sometimes his eyes met hers for a second longer.
But others noticed. Some made cruel remarks:
“Playing charity worker on company time?”
“Kids these days expect handouts.”
“In my day, no one gave food for free.”
Jenny stayed quiet. She’d learned that defending kindness rarely changed bitter hearts.
Paying the Price Herself
One morning, Mark, the manager, called her into his office.
“I’ve been watching you with that kid,” he said sternly. “We can’t give away free meals. Bad for business.”
“I’ll pay for them,” Jenny said quickly.
“From your tips? Those barely cover your rent.”
“It’s my choice,” she answered firmly.
Mark studied her for a moment, then sighed. “Fine. But if it affects your work, it ends.”
From then on, Jenny used part of her tips each morning to pay for the boy’s meal.
