QUARTERLY STORY: By Word of Mouth

Quarterly
Story

By Word of Mouth Storytelling Guild

Kevin Watson put on his grubby handy man clothes, got in his old beat up pick up truck and drove to the bank. He parked the truck in the bank parking lot and went inside for a brief meeting with his broker and to cash a check. After completing his transactions, he went back to the parking lot to get in his truck. The parking lot attendant informed him that there was a new parking policy which required him to pay a one dollar parking fee, unless he went back into the bank and asked them for the "blue customer's parking waiver ticket."

Since he didn't have any small bills and the attendant didn't have change for big bills, Kevin went back inside the bank and asked the teller for a blue waiver ticket for the parking lot. The teller took one look at Kevin and his grubby handy man clothes and let him know in no uncertain terms that he had to be a customer and make a transaction to get the parking waiver. Kevin tries unsuccessfully to convince her that he was indeed a customer and had cashed a check just a short while ago. Eyeing him suspiciously, she impatiently hissed that cashing checks was not a transaction. When Kevin asked to see the manager, he expected the matter to be resolved, but the manager was more rude than the teller.

Kevin politely told the teller and the manager that if they would kindly give him change for a one hundred dollar bill, that he would gladly pay the one dollar parking fee himself. After the hundred dollar bill passed the teller's counterfeit test, she gave him smaller bills. Once this was done, Kevin pulled out his driver's license and additional identification as well as proof of his bank account. He then asked if the manager would be so kind as to close his account so that he would not have to bother them again. The manager sneered and asked the teller to take care of the matter. When she looked at the account on the computer, she yelled for the manager who moved swiftly, accompanied by a security guard - ready to get rid of the troublesome Kevin. The security guard held Kevin while the teller motioned for the manager to look at the computer. Imagine his surprise when he saw that Kevin's account was worth more than two million dollars. Time stood still and a loud quiet went through the bank at the sight of Kevin being held by the security guard, the teller wearing a blank stare and tears streaming down the mumbling manager's face. In spite of the bumbling apologies, explanations and pleading which poured out of the manager's quivering mouth, Kevin after being released by the security guard, closed the account. He took his funds, paid the parking lot attendant, drove his truck to three different banks before he found workers who overlooked what he was wearing and treated him with courtesy before they knew how rich he was. There, he deposited his funds. It doesn't cost a dime to be courteous, but not being courteous sometimes carries a heavy penalty.

— Gladys Coggswell/Storyteller

If you have a story to submit to this page, please send it to By Word of Mouth Storytelling Guild P.O. Box 56 Frankford, MO 63441 or email it to gladcogg@nemonet.com If chosen, your story will appear on this page with your name and any information you wish to reveal about yourself (up to 50 words plus contact information).