Dasher Diary: “Don’t Shoot!”: The Heart-Pounding Valentine’s Delivery That Almost Went South

It's never boring when I am out delivering food in Amarillo. It's just not always leaving me with a fear of being shot. At least this past Valentine's Day, one delivery had me messaging a customer about a situation like that.

Usually, on Valentine's Day, you expect to deliver flowers and bring a smile to the recipient's face. That did happen several times that day. One delivery I was assigned to go on was not a typical delivery.

Tiff's Treats and Jason's Deli: A Sweet Setup

The delivery started like any other that day. This delivery didn't have me going to a flower shop. No, I was picking up Valentine's Day cookies. The pickup location was at Tiff's Treats. For those who don't know, Tiff’s Treats operates out of the Jason’s Deli kitchen to prepare these orders.
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I picked up a dozen Valentine's Day cookies, which were intended to be delivered to a home that more than likely was not expecting the delivery. It was a gift. As I was driving to the location, I heard from the customer.

The Unusual Request: "Make a Scene"

They requested that when I got to the drop-off location, I make a scene. They wanted me to pound on the door. That did worry me a bit since I knew they were not expecting me, so my response was warranted. I didn't want to get shot while delivering and pounding on a door in Texas.

The "Texas" Fear: Why Pounding on Doors is Risky Business

I did as requested. The front door was standing open. There was just a glass screen door between the intended gift and the recipient. I approached the door and placed the box of cookies on the ground. I took both fists and pounded on the door, and hurried back to my car.

Hands Up: Defusing the Confrontation at the Door

As I approached my car, a very concerned man came to the door and opened it. I put my hands up right away and told him that I was sorry, but that I was instructed to drop the delivery off like that.

The recipient still had a concerned look on his face, but not as bad as when he first got to the door. I got in my car and drove off as quickly as I could, and that is when I received a couple more dollars from the customer.

The Aftermath: A $10 Tip for a Job Well Done

That added tip turned that delivery into $10 extra for me, doing just what he asked. I don't know the story behind why he wanted to startle the folks living there, but I hope it ended up being a funny story for them.

You never really know what your deliveries will be like in Amarillo. This one is one I won't forget for a while.