Pregnant waitress gets $973.65 tip

updated 12:43 p.m. ET March 17, 2006

ROANOKE, Va. - When a couple left a huge tip on the table at a local restaurant, their waitress figured it had to be a joke.

They left $1,000 to cover a bill of $26.35 and a note saying “Keep the change! Have a great day.”

The gift left waitress Amanda Newkirk teary with excitement. But the 19-year-old, who is seven-months pregnant, couldn’t figure out why she’d been given such a generous tip.

A couple days later, she got her answer.

A 28-year-old widow called Newkirk’s boss to say she’d left the tip because she “didn’t need it,” and wanted to give it to someone who did.

Erin Dogan says she’s a shopaholic and could have easily spent the money at a mall. She says giving the money to Newkirk made her feel “phenomenal.”

MORE FROM LIFE

Life Section Front

Bodies dug up, cut up at black cemetery Local governments face painful choices   Another furlough to close Calif. offices   Tot plays hide-and-seek much too well   5 killed when Amtrak train hits car in Mich.   Woman vanishes at NYC skyscraper State puts federal marriage law on trial Human remains, debris found at crash site NYT: Cities lose out on stimulus funds Teen sailor nears end of trip around the world Life Section Front   Add Life headlines to your news reader: