Stories from McDonald’s.

The soda water saga continues.

Tonight on the way home I stopped for a soda water.

I order and am told it’s $1.08.

I approach the window.

I hand the lady my card.

She turns to process it, then comes back to the window.

She says, can I ask you a question? Do you order this anywhere wise?

Other restaurants or other McDonald’s?

Both?

I look to see if anyone is behind me. There is no one.

I say, funny you should ask.

It doesn’t matter the McDonald’s. It’s always a different price. .22. 1.08. 1.22. Or free. It’s always an adventure.

She says, I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t being an asshole for charging you.

I said no. The cup. The lid. The straw. You. The machine. There’s a cost associated with all of it. So I appreciate when it’s free. But I never expect it.

I tell her thank you for not charging me.

And.

Yesterday.

I went to get a soda.

The woman means to give it to me free but inadvertently charges me for the car behind me. She was getting a manager to process the refund and I told her just to tell the car I paid. It was 5 bucks and some change.

I’d never done that before.