KRISTY GRAY Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:00 am
This column is for Hailey. Hailey works at the Dominoes Pizza on Centennial Court in east Casper and, one week ago, she made my night.
My house needed pizza. Fast. My husband had just stepped out of his home office to be nearly devoured by a hungry teenager and two equally hungry 6-year-old boys.
He called me at work, way past quitting time: "When you coming home? These boys are starving."
So, we made a deal. If he ordered the pizza, I'd swing by and pick it up.
I'd never been to the Dominoes on Centennial Court. When I went to the counter, I was tired and ready to be home. A man swiped my plastic and checked his computer to find my order.
Then Hailey walked up.
"Hello," she said. (I looked over my shoulder. Was she talking to me? I was already being helped.)
"Hello," I answered.
Right there, the conversation could have ended. And let's face it, over pizza or any other service counters these days, most conversations do.
But Hailey continued, even as the man handed me a receipt.
"You look familiar. Have I seen you before?"
"Hmmm. I'm not sure."
"What's your name?"
"Kristy."
"Oh. Well, I'm Hailey, by the way. I like your necklace."
"Thanks," I answered.
"It's very earthy."
That was it. On paper, it seems unremarkable. But compared to a lot of customer service these days - and after a long and hectic day - that brief conversation struck me as quite remarkable indeed.
It's both sad and striking that Hailey's kindness struck me at all. It seems that rudeness is en vogue these days.
When my husband was bagging groceries almost 20 years ago - back when baggers were actually taught how to load paper grocery bags - he insisted on carrying them out to customers' cars.
"If you're not carrying out groceries, then you're stocking shelves. If you're not doing that, then you don't have a job," his dad used to tell him.
How often do you get help out with your groceries now? How long before aggravating automated tellers take human contact out of the grocery store altogether?
OK, so I'm officially a grumpy old lady.
But I tell you what: Hailey's questions seemed genuine. Her friendliness made me feel friendly. When another employee came to talk to her, she didn't turn her back and carry on a conversation right in front of me as if I wasn't standing right there.
After I had my pizza, I filled out the tip box on my credit-card slip.
"Thank you for the tip," Hailey announced, yes, still smiling. "We all split them at the end of the night, and everybody little bit helps."
I said "Good night" and took my pizza home. I was too taken off guard to really thank Hailey for, well - being nice.
So thank you, Hailey. I hope you stumble across this message and I hope you remember who sent it. You probably won't.
But I want you to know it's noticed.
And I want you to know my name is Kristy. The next time I have to feed a house full of starving boys, maybe we can talk again.
Reach features editor Kristy Gray at (307) 266-0586 or kristy.gray@trib.com