Old Lady Orders Two Cups of Coffee Every Day but Drinks Only One, Waiters Are Confused — Story of the Day

No one at the cafe understood why that old lady always ordered two cups of coffee and only drank one.

The staff at the Golden Goose Coffee Shop were used to seeing a frail elderly woman come in every Saturday and order two cups of coffee. That might not seem unusual, but she always sat alone, and no one ever joined her.

The second cup of coffee was untouched and left standing on her table when she left. The new manager of the Golden Goose found her irritating, sitting by herself, mumbling over her coffee.

He asked one of the older waiters, Toby, who had been working for the Golden Goose for twenty years how long the woman had been coming to the cafe. "Oh, she was a regular when I started working here," the man said, "and I think for twenty years before that!"

"Well I don't like it!" cried the manager, "It brings down the tone of the Golden Goose having a crazy woman sitting at that table for hours!"

That Saturday, at 11:00 on the dot, the old lady walked in, took her usual table, and asked for her usual two cups of coffee. Toby took her order and hurried to fulfill it.

"Is she back?" asked the manager crossly. "I'm keeping an eye on her. If she disturbs the other customers, I will run her off!"

Just then, a young couple came in and sat at the table next to the old lady. The manager could see that the girl wasn't happy. "Here again?" she asked the young man. "I'm sick of this place!"

Sometimes the right words at the right moment can turn our lives around.

"But I thought you liked the waffles and the coffee here..." the young man said.

"Well, Corey, once in a while I'd like you to take me somewhere a little classier!" she snapped.

The young man blushed scarlet. "Wanda, you know I'm doing my best, but things haven't been easy..."

"They haven't been easy since I met you!" Wanda said. "Are we ever going to get married?"

"Wanda," Corey said softly, "you know I'd marry you in a heartbeat, but I want to give you more."

"When?" asked Wanda angrily. "When are you going to give me more? Because let me tell you, Corey, I deserve more."

"I know you do, Wanda," Corey was saying when the old lady got up from her table and interrupted them.

"Excuse me," she said. "Please forgive me for intruding, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation and it reminded me so much of my last talk with my fiancé...

"I also wanted to get married, and I was tired of waiting and counting pennies. I told him that if he didn't shape up I'd find someone who could give me what I wanted. And I used those same words, 'I deserve more.'"

"Look lady," said Wanda, "this is none of your business..." The old woman placed a gentle hand on Wanda's shoulder.

"My dear, I don't want you to make the same mistake I made. I told my fiancé that I'd meet him here the next Saturday and that he'd better be ready to marry me. I came, ordered our coffee, but he never showed up.

"I was so angry...But when I got home, his best friend was there, waiting for me. He told me my fiancé had taken on a dangerous job that paid double -- and because he was inexperienced, he made a mistake. He died."

"He died?" Wanda asked. "Just like that?"

"Yes. I've lived with that pain and regret for the last 45 years," the woman said sadly. "So I come here every Saturday and order two coffees. I dream he'll come through that door...Don't make my mistake, my dear."

Wanda had tears in her eyes as she watched the old lady walk out of the cafe. She turned to Corey and put her arms around him. "Oh Corey," she whispered, "I'm sorry! I love you so much. All I want is to be with you, right here, where we are now."

The grumpy manager who had been watching and listening to the whole story had tears in his eyes when he gave orders to Toby and the other waiters that from that day on, the old lady's coffee was on the house.

What can we learn from this story?

• Love is what matters, not luxury or status. The old lady's fiancé wanted to give her what she wanted and it cost him his life.
• Sometimes the right words at the right moment can turn our lives around. The old lady's story made Wanda realize what was really important in her life.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who meets a homeless man who changes her life.

This account is inspired by our reader's story but written by a professional writer. All names have been changed to protect identities and ensure privacy. Share your story with us, maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.