At a small-town Tim Hortons, Earl and Mabel had shared coffee there for over fifty years — his double-double, her honey cruller — a quiet ritual the whole community knew.
One afternoon, a college student named Jeremy sat nearby, distracted by his phone. Out of boredom, he tossed a crumpled napkin toward the trash, missing badly. It landed on Mabel’s head.
The café went silent. Earl, calm but firm, reminded Jeremy that even small, careless actions can be disrespectful — especially toward elders. Mabel, gracious as ever, kept the moment from turning tense.
Jeremy apologized, and the shop soon returned to its warm chatter. For locals, the incident became a favorite story — a gentle reminder that in any shared space, respect keeps the community strong.
