She was less than a shadow;

most in her position are:

A waitress,

actually a little too old to be one

and still dishing up a mean plate of kung pao

and an even bigger saucer of kindness.          .          .

She had served us well

and went over to serve him

.        .       .apparently not so well;

THREE WORDS:

H E    W A S     R U D E

(v               e               r              y)

He didn’t so much order
(chop suey, with rice, NO NOODLES)

as he COMMANDED;

a beer
whiskey on the rocks
water

and she just  smiled almost continuously after one rude comment after another and even more insulting gestures as to where she was suppose to put on the table, each thing he had barked for her to bring;

It was strange.          .          .
we thought, watching him count a roll of 50 dollar bills in the midst of his unwarranted tirade.          .          .

and for a brief moment, it crossed my mind to say something to him;

to call him on his crudeness;

Seriously, what’s a true Caring Catalyst to do.          .          .
especially when
this   caring   catalyst
is the definition of

non-confrontational 

AND THEN IT SLEDGE HAMMER HIT ME:
(and it hasn’t stopped)

I triple tipped her that night
(once for her, once for him, and once: JUST BECAUSE)

HE  WAS  ABOUT  TO  MAKE  A  BIG  DIFFERENCE  IN  HER  LIFE.          .         .

I   WANTED   TO   MAKE   SURE   I   MADE   A   BIGGER   DIFFERENCE

R U D E      M A N

and overly accommodating-serving-more-than-a-shadow-waitress

taught me in living vivid color:

When   someone   doesn’t   make   a   difference

M A K E      S U R E      Y O U      D O !