The Cafe That Pays It Forward

There's a little café near my office with a chalkboard by the register. If you want, you can pay for an extra coffee, and they write it on the board: "1 coffee, from Lisa." Anyone who needs a coffee can come in and claim one, no questions asked.

Some days there are thirty coffees on the board. People pay for sandwiches, muffins, even full lunches. Once someone paid for twenty-five hot chocolates "for any kids who come in after school."

I've watched people claim them. A construction worker on his break. A student studying for an exam. An older woman who comes in every morning and always says "thank you" to the board.

I buy one coffee for myself and one for the board, most mornings. It's two dollars. It's the best two dollars I spend all day.