【轻阅读、看世界】Has anyone ever completely changed your view of them with one sentence?

铅笔英语，每晚睡前故事。

看世界人生百态，品人间真情冷暖。

多一种语言，多一个纬度，多一段故事。

Years ago I worked in the family business (a franchise ice cream store). We had a lot of regulars, and I really enjoyed the customers — except for this one woman. She was awful, hateful, rude and just a jerk. One day I was talking to one of my co-workers when we saw Mrs. Wonderful pull up in front of the store. The other worker said to me, “We should kick her bitchy ass out.” I don’t know what made me do it but I said “No, let’s kill her with kindness.” I ran over and immediately started handpacking the three pounds of chocolate mint ice cream that she purchased every time she came in. She hit the door, frowning. I had it weighed, bagged and rung up before she got to the register. I handed it to her, she took it, turned and left. Not a word.

The same thing happened for weeks. It sort of became a game for us, to see if we could get it ready before she got to the front door from her car. Finally one day I said, “You can’t have it until you prove to me that you have teeth.” She looked very angry and said, “WHAT?” I was taken aback and replied, “You never smile; smile at me.” She glared and gave me a death head smile, no happiness or humor, just teeth. I thought, oh crap. But she took her ice cream and left. She didn’t come back in for a couple of weeks and I thought it was my fault — I had run off a customer by being rude. I felt really bad.

Then one day she came in and said, “I have to thank you girls. Every time I stopped here you were all so nice to me and I was dreadful. You see, I was taking the ice cream to my husband who was dying in the hospital and the only thing he wanted to eat was chocolate mint ice cream. I was so distraught every time I arrived here that I know I was awful. You all made it so much easier for me with your consideration and kindness. I don’t think I could have taken it if it hadn’t been for you girls.” We were floored.

From her I learned, at the age of 17, that you never know what’s going on in someone else’s life. So just be kind. That jerk tail-gating you, just pull over and let him by; he may have a hurt child in the car. That asshole who took your parking spot may have just buried his wife. You just never know — and kindness costs you nothing.