How to Get a Free Carwash

So I pull into my local gas station on empty, and I'm jonesing for sunflower seeds ( I don't smoke or drink so this is as edgy as I get people).

Instead of paying at the pump, I walk my hiking boots, dirty jeans, wrinkly shirt, hair in ponytail, no make-up wearing booty in to the mini-mart.

I grab some crackin' seeds and stand in line. Skinny as a bean pole 17year-old looking gas station attendant checks me from head to foot.

I laugh inside.

I smack down my seeds and say "Fill it up on 9".

He hands me back the seeds and says "Just pay at the pump."

Stumped, I look at the seeds and say " I can't pay for these at the pump."

He does his best James Dean and says, "It's cool."

I shake my head, "No, it's cool. I'll pay for these and put $35 on 9."

He shrugs his shoulders.

The line behind me grows.

He rings up the seeds.

Twice.

He curses under his breath, deletes both seeds and tries to give them to me again.

I smile patiently with all the effort of not outright laughing at him, and wait for my total.

Swiping my card, I PIN in with the final total, snatch my paid for seeds and say, "Thank you so much."

I walk out, shaking my booty just for heck of it.

Back at the car, I throw the seeds in, look at the pump and...

*Smack*

I'm on pump 10, dagnabbit!

I walk my booty back inside, stand in line, watch him smile knowingly like I came back just for him, get to the front and say,

"Just because I wanted to make you work for your paycheck today, I told you the wrong pump number. I'm on 10."

He smiled his dorky little grin and said as smoothly as any gas station jockey could "I know. I watched you get out of your car and I knew what pump you were on. I got it right."

Alrighty then. Back at the car, pumping my gas. Do-de-do.

I top off at $32. Dagnabbit!

I walk my booty back inside for trip 3. Are seeds really worth all this!?

I grab a cup for my cracked shells and stand in line behind an old man in a tux who danced to the tunes of Marvin Gaye over the mini-mart's rocking surround sound system.

Back at the front of the line.

"Change on 10 please."

He smiles knowingly. He really believes that I did all this just to put on a show for him. Sad little boy.

Anyways, I get my $3 bucks change. I read his extra cool name tag and say,"Michael, thank you for all your hard work for me today."

I sashe' back to my car. Inside I arrange my seed cup, and proceed to have difficulty opening up the seed package. I have not yet driven away from the pump.

Who do I see walking up to my car with paper in hand?

Michael, the oh so sauve keeper of the gas and all mini-mart goodies!

I roll down my window and ask "What did I forget?"

He hands me a slip of paper and says, "This is for your car."

It's a ticket for a FREE Ultra Carwash!!

He then hands me another piece of paper with his name and number written on it.

"And this is for me". His smile has all the desire of 17year-old boy looking at a girl. Seriously!

Before I go on I would just like to say how very flattered I was at this move. I was so not trying to be extra cute or funny or flirty or anything. Just being me. Also, I was very impressed at his self-confidence. He was not the cutest thing since sliced bread and could use some ProActiv, but dang! He straight out gave me his number! That took some huevos!

But I still shot him down. What could I do?

I pointed at my ring and said, "Thank you so much, but I'll have to give this back to you."

I handed his number back to him.

He looked at my ring, crestfallen, and said "Oh sorry. But you can still have the carwash."

"Thank you! That's really awesome!" I reply.

He ambles back to the store, a bit broken hearten.

I drive through to get my Free Ultra Carwash, ego boosted.

Moral of the story: It pays to be nice, even to the guy at the gas station.