For my daughter’s birthday celebration last night, I ordered to medium-sized pizzas and an order of chicken wings. After thirty-five minutes, my phone rang. It was a male voice with a heavy accent. He told me that he was outside with my delivery. I did not know how much tip to give him because they had already tacked on a high delivery fee. In my opinion and based on the risk of being outside in the elements of COVID-19, 10% was too small, so I decided to give him ten dollars.
I went to the door to complete the transaction, when I noticed that the young man was not wearing a face-covering mask. He stood on the path with the pizza insulated bag and I stood behind my glass door wondering how I was going to do this exchange.
“Where is your mask?” I asked.
“I do not have a mask; the company ran out of them and made an order, but we haven’t received them yet,” he explained.
“Hold on. I will give you one.”
I gave him the money, and took the boxes right to the kitchen and placed them in the kitchen sink. Yes, I was a bit paranoid. I did not want to track the virus into my home. I washed my hands and went to get the mask.
He waited patiently on the steps. I gave him the mask, and he thanked me with an appreciative smile.
“Stay safe out there.”
“Thank you, miss,” he answered and went into his car.
I believed that my action could prevent one person from contracting COVID-19. I felt that the $10 tip was worth it because he was out there exposed to the virus risking his life and probably of his family just being out there to provide for me and us.
I commend the people who are out there as essential workers working under life-threatening and stressful conditions. They need to be equipped with protective gear to safely do their jobs.
It is now an order by the Governor of New York State for everyone to wear a mask or face-covering of any kind when out in public if they are in a place where social distancing isn’t possible.
Be safe out there, everyone!
Okay, I said it!