$86 act of kindness is life changing

Until recently, I thought most people were ignorant, prejudiced, greedy and slovenly.

On television, “Law and Order” and “CSI” have taught me to be wary of everyone. I had never talked to a person sitting next to me on an airplane, for I felt sure they were going to abuse me, rob me, kill me or do all of the above.

I always thought that it would take a lot to change this way of thinking. In reality, all it took was $86.

I recently went to see a movie in Wasilla with a group of friends. After the movie had ended, we all met up at Pizza Hut to grab a bite and have some fun. We ordered three pizzas, breadsticks and fountain drinks. We stayed at the nearly empty Pizza Hut for almost an hour, leisurely eating our pizza and having a good time socializing as teenagers do.

Finally, we packed up our leftover pizza in boxes and headed for the cash register. As we all fumbled with cash, debit cards and bills, the cashier smiled at us and remarked, “The gentlemen in booth C6 already paid your tab.”

Confused, I turned around and saw that booth C6 was directly to the left of where we had been sitting. I hadn’t even seen the man there.

Slightly bewildered, we all asked the cashier who the man was and why he would do something like that. All we found out was that he was a Pizza Hut regular; he didn’t mention that he knew us and he was a really nice guy. He also left a message: “Pass it on.”

Walking out the door, I frantically tabulated the bill in my head, embarrassed by how much we had ordered. The total was $86. What the exact motives of this gentleman were I will never know. If he observed anything exemplary about our conduct, I can’t think what it might have been.

I like to think he bought our pizza because he cared enough about us to go out of his way to make our day. In my case, I hope it has changed my life.

Although I still won’t jump into strangers’ cars, my perspective on people in general has changed. Because of that $86 favor, I no longer look at people and assume the worst. I see hope in this world and I see opportunities for kindness all around me. I am generally a kinder and more friendly person, and I even talk to the people sitting next to me on airplanes.

I have come to look at people and wonder if one was the one who paid for my pizza, or if they have ever paid for anyone’s pizza. Eighty-six dollars was all it took to change my perspective and every day I look for a way to pass on the favor.

When I am an adult, I know I’ll pay for a lot of pizza.

Rachel Kenley will be a senior at Palmer High School this fall.