Buck, who seemed cold on the outside, had a profound impact on the life of a waitress named Melina. Going out to eat is usually enjoyable for people, as they can savor delicious food and try new things without worrying about cleaning up. Additionally, it’s a pleasant change to get out of the house. However, providing a relaxing experience for guests requires hard work from restaurant staff, including chefs, managers, and servers like Melina.
Having dealt with difficult situations and demanding customers throughout her years of experience, Melina knew how to handle challenging circumstances. Buck, a regular customer at Luby’s and a World War II veteran, was known to be one of the most demanding patrons. Nevertheless, despite his reputation, he would ultimately have a positive and transformative impact on Melina’s life.
Passion For Her Work
Waitressing wasn’t a popular career choice for most people, but Melina Salazar was different. She worked at Lucy’s, a cafeteria-style restaurant chain in Texas, and over time, she developed a genuine love for her job. Not only did she enjoy it, but she was also exceptionally skilled at it, often being hailed as the best waitress by her fellow staff members.
Salazar prioritized customer service above everything else. She believed that every customer, regardless of how difficult they might be, deserved respect and attentive treatment. Her colleagues often observed her with a smile on her face, dedicated to making people happy. While these qualities made her stand out, they also presented her with the toughest challenge she had encountered thus far…
Top Service
Because she was so good with handling difficult customers, she was given a special task. Management wanted her to take care of Luby’s most difficult customer. Many people would be fed up with the job, but Salazar didn’t have a single problem with it. She was excited for the challenge.
There was one specific customer that was so difficult that other servers didn’t want to serve him unless there was no other choice. Even Salazar admitted that it was no walk in the park dealing with him. He was one of the most difficult customers she had ever come across. But still, she had her reasons to go on serving him.
The Most Difficult Customer
There was a customer at Luby’s named Walter “Buck” Swords, an 89-year-old World War II survivor, who was feared by the staff. Buck had a quick temper and an unfriendly demeanor, causing the staff to do their best to avoid him. Despite his long history of dining at Luby’s for lunch, he had developed a notorious reputation, and eventually, no one wanted to serve him anymore.
However, Salazar was different. She was the one exception who could handle Buck’s difficult personality.
Always Finding A Mistake
Old men often tend to complain and grumble, but Buck stood out as exceptionally difficult. As soon as he stepped foot into the restaurant, everyone braced themselves, anticipating the challenges that would follow. Regardless of how good the food was, Buck always managed to find something to complain about.
Impatience was one of Buck’s defining traits, and he would become upset whenever he had to wait. His behavior was so troublesome that he sometimes resorted to cursing at the staff. Even the most seasoned members of the team had reached their breaking point with him. However, for Salazar, Buck wasn’t seen as a problem, but rather as an enjoyable challenge. She consistently served him with a cheerful smile on her face.
Respect Above All
Salazar’s secret to handling Buck’s cursing fits lay in her unwavering belief in the importance of respect for providing good service. She held onto this principle, even though there were moments when she struggled to maintain her patience with him. However, despite his difficult attitude, Buck had managed to carve out a special place in her heart. She began to genuinely care about the grumpy old man, never anticipating the unique surprise he had in store for her.
The Best Waitress
As time went on, Salazar became the sole waitress attending to Buck’s needs. His sour mood and disrespectful words no longer fazed her. In her eyes, Buck was just another customer seeking assistance. Salazar consistently strived to provide him with prompt service, ensuring that his order was taken quickly, except during exceptionally busy periods when she had to attend to other customers. She regarded Buck as deserving of the same excellent service as anyone else, and it was through this unwavering dedication that she earned the title of the best server in his eyes.
Piping Hot Request
Buck had a tendency not to enjoy most things, but there was one exception: his fondness for piping hot meals. Regardless of what he ordered from the Luby’s menu, one requirement remained consistent—it had to be served at the highest temperature possible. According to Salazar, the food tasted better to Buck when it was scorching hot, even if it meant burning the roof of his mouth.
For seven years, Buck maintained a daily routine of visiting the restaurant at the same time. Over the course of those years, Salazar diligently learned precisely how he preferred his food prepared. She made every effort to fulfill his requests and ensure his comfort, even though it wasn’t always an easy task.
With Time
As the years went by, Salazar noticed a gradual improvement in her relationship with Buck. She had mastered the art of preparing his food to his exact preferences and consistently served him with a genuine smile. In an attempt to engage him in conversation, she would inquire about his day and show a genuine interest in his well-being.
While Salazar was steadily building a connection with Buck, her colleagues struggled to comprehend how she managed to serve their most challenging customer with unwavering cheerfulness. Each day, she greeted him with enthusiasm, harboring a different perception of him compared to the rest. Surprisingly, there were even moments when Buck returned the smile, indicating a subtle change in their interactions.
A Special Day
Over the course of their seven-year acquaintance, Melina Salazar and Buck formed a bond, while other servers came and went at the restaurant. The cooks even knew the exact time Buck would arrive without fail. Through good times and bad, he remained an important and recognizable customer, with his unique personality becoming a familiar presence at Luby’s.
Although there were other regular customers at Luby’s, Buck stood out due to his vibrant personality. After seven years of daily lunches, his absence on any given day immediately caught everyone’s attention, including the employees who might have preferred to avoid him. While no one else seemed particularly concerned, Salazar couldn’t help but feel worried…
Worries Arose
Having spent seven years serving Buck, Salazar had become accustomed to his daily presence. In fact, she genuinely looked forward to serving him each day. Familiar with his punctuality, she knew the exact time he would arrive without fail. So, when he failed to show up one day, Salazar couldn’t help but feel worried.
Despite his old age, Buck remained remarkably agile and energetic, especially considering his fiery temperament. Salazar’s concern grew, and she began to fear the worst. However, she had her responsibilities at work to attend to, so she tried not to dwell on her worries too much. Even though she genuinely cared, there was still work to be done.
Buck Didn’t Return
The next day, Buck didn’t show up again. This was unusual because he had been coming in every day for seven years. Most of the staff didn’t worry, but Salazar missed him a lot. She thought maybe he wasn’t feeling well and needed rest. She couldn’t stop thinking about how he was doing. While Salazar was concerned about him, her colleagues started teasing her about missing Buck so much. They didn’t understand why she cared so deeply. Little did Salazar know, Buck had a surprise planned that would explain her strong feelings for him.
From Days To Weeks
As the days turned into a week, Salazar couldn’t shake off her worries about Buck’s well-being. She felt at a loss as to how to contact him or even begin to find out how he was doing. Over the course of serving him for seven years, Salazar had learned a lot about Buck, particularly his strong desire for privacy.
Buck had never disclosed any details about his personal life. Despite their long-standing acquaintance, Salazar remained unaware of even the smallest details about him. Trying not to dwell on it too much, she carried on with her work at Luby’s, just as she always had. Little did she know that a discovery awaited her, one that would forever alter her life.
An Unsettling Discovery
Due to the bustling nature of Luby’s, Salazar was unable to dwell on Buck’s absence as she had numerous other customers to attend to. The busyness of her job eventually caused her to forget about him. However, her attention was unexpectedly drawn to something when she stumbled upon a local newspaper. Despite not actively seeking anything specific, she felt a strange urge to purchase the paper.
As she flipped through the pages, it was the obituary section that caught her eye. In an instant, everything became clear. The reason behind Buck’s sudden disappearance dawned on her—he had passed away. Salazar was taken aback and found it difficult to believe what she was reading.
Full Of Emotion
Salazar had developed a genuine fondness for her perpetually grumpy customer. After reading the obituary, she found herself speechless, unable to utter a single word. The details of Buck’s passing filled her heart with profound sadness. It was a feeling she hadn’t anticipated, given their interactions. The news triggered an unexpected surge of emotions within Salazar. The sudden sorrow and sense of loss caught her completely off guard. While her colleagues remained indifferent, Salazar was devastated by the realization that one of her favorite customers would never return.
Grief
Salazar’s colleagues struggled to comprehend why Buck’s passing had such a profound effect on her. After all, he had only shown a few smiles to her over the years, and his overall attitude was far from pleasant. However, the server had developed a soft spot for the grumpy old veteran. Even Salazar herself couldn’t fully grasp why his death had impacted her so deeply.
In an attempt to find solace and offer her support, Salazar turned to prayer. She prayed for Buck, hoping that her heartfelt prayers would guide him on his journey towards eternal peace. It was the only thing she could think of to honor his memory and express her sincere care for him.
Life Goes On
Even though her beloved customer had passed away, the hustle and bustle at Luby’s continued as usual. Salazar had to attend to the needs of the other customers, leaving little time for personal reflection. Unlike her, the rest of the waitstaff didn’t share the same attachment to Buck. They were indifferent to the fact that he would never return to the restaurant.
In fact, a few staff members felt a sense of relief knowing they would no longer have to encounter Buck’s grumpy demeanor or listen to his profanity-laden rants. After seven years, they were grateful to have some peace and quiet. However, for Salazar, things were different. She couldn’t easily move on like the others.
The Feeling
After Buck’s passing, a sense of emptiness consumed Salazar. She often found herself gazing at the entrance, secretly hoping that Buck would walk through the door once more. However, deep down, she knew that would never happen again. Although Salazar didn’t know much about his personal life, Buck’s service in World War II alone had earned her utmost respect.
Through the stories shared by friends and family members, Salazar could only imagine the hardships and challenges Buck had faced during his time in the war. His military service had undoubtedly shaped his life and bestowed upon him a wealth of experiences. Salazar had always aimed to make his time at the restaurant more enjoyable through her exceptional service, but now that opportunity was forever lost. She had to come to terms with the reality and move forward.
Just when Salazar thought she had to let go completely, a phone call unexpectedly came her way, potentially changing the course of her journey.
A Surprising Phone Call
After accepting the reality of Buck’s passing, Salazar resumed her regular routine and returned to work. She focused on moving forward and carrying out her duties as usual. However, her routine was unexpectedly interrupted when she received a surprising phone call from an unfamiliar number. Curious, Salazar answered the call during her break.
To her astonishment, the person on the other end identified himself as a lawyer and addressed her by name. What the lawyer revealed left Salazar in utter disbelief, causing her jaw to drop. Initially, she questioned whether it was some kind of joke or a terrible mistake. However, the lawyer’s persuasive words gradually convinced her that what she was hearing was, in fact, the truth.
Buck’s Will
Salazar was talking to a lawyer on the phone, but she didn’t understand what was happening. The lawyer told her that he was the lawyer for Walter “Buck” Swords, who had recently passed away. Surprisingly, Buck had included Salazar in his will. The lawyer suggested meeting the next day to discuss what she would inherit. Salazar didn’t know how to react but agreed to the meeting.
It turned out that the grumpy old man had left a nice surprise for the waitress who had served him for many years. Salazar was at a loss for words after receiving the phone call. She had one important question: what could Buck have left for her? And why did he choose her to receive his inheritance?
Why Me?
After the peculiar phone call, Salazar completed her shift and couldn’t get Buck out of her mind. The following day, she would meet with his lawyer to go over the required formalities. However, the question lingered: why did Buck choose to include her in his will? Instead of selecting close friends or family, he picked a waitress. Their relationship had never seemed significant. Yet, Buck had specifically named her. Determined to unravel the mystery, Salazar began reflecting on their shared past, revisiting old memories.
Reliving Old Memories
As Salazar prepared to sleep, she made an effort to recall as many memories of Buck as she could. She pondered over his consistently negative attitude towards her and her coworkers. Despite this, she had managed to adjust to his grumpy demeanor and had even grown to care for him in her own way.
Salazar had always empathized with Buck and held a deep respect for his past service and wartime experiences. However, she had never felt valued or acknowledged by him. She wasn’t even sure if he noticed the lengths she went to in order to ensure his comfort. Soon enough, it would become apparent just how much he truly appreciated her efforts…
A Beautiful Gift
Among the regular customers at Luby’s, it was widely recognized how diligently Salazar worked to provide exceptional service. She carried out her duties flawlessly, never expecting anything in return from the patrons, especially not from the irritable Buck. Yet, it seemed that was precisely why the lawyer had contacted her. Naturally, she was utterly shocked.
The following day, Buck’s lawyer arrived at Salazar’s house. After entering, he revealed the exact contents of Buck’s bequest. To her astonishment, it included his beloved car and a sum of $50,000. Salazar found it hard to believe that he had left her such a remarkable gift. He had chosen her above all others in his life.
Assured Future
Buck had a deeper understanding of Salazar than she had realized. He anticipated that she might hesitate to accept his gifts immediately. As a result, he had instructed her lawyer to ensure that she would receive them. True to his expectations, Salazar struggled to accept both the car and the significant amount of money.
The lawyer reassured Salazar that Buck would find peace knowing that he had made a positive impact on her life. Although the unexpected display of gratitude caught her off guard, she didn’t take it lightly. After careful consideration, she made the decision to honor her favorite regular’s final wishes.
An Extremely Thankful Waitress
The dedicated waitress deeply appreciated Buck’s expression of gratitude towards her. Nevertheless, she firmly believed that no amount of money could compare to the compassion and kindness shared between two individuals. Additionally, she held fast to her belief that every customer deserved to be treated with equal respect, just like Buck. All those years of hard work had finally paid off for Salazar, even if the reward wasn’t solely meant for her.
For Salazar, the most significant aspect of the gesture was the feeling of appreciation for her efforts. As long as she continues to work, she will maintain the same radiant smile on her face. She is determined to treat others with the same level of kindness and respect that she desires for herself.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Salazar is grateful and has gained a valuable insight into life: appearances can be misleading. Just because someone appears perpetually angry doesn’t mean they don’t find joy in life. Even grumpy individuals can appreciate the finest aspects of life. Buck serves as a perfect example of this realization for Melina Salazar.
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