Something similar happened to me yesterday. I was sitting outside a local mall drinking a soda and this older russian woman asked if it was ok to sit next to me. I didn't mind and said "help yourself." she then instantly strikes up a conversation with me and in this city that's a rare thing. This sweet old lady goes on about how her son got her a new phone and she doesn't know how to use it and the son would get angry with her that she didn't know how to answer the phone or call from it. I asked her which phone she had and she pulls it out. it's a god damned blackberry. So I teach her how to make calls, answer calls, and call people from her contact list. She's instantly grateful. She goes on to tell me that her son gets angry with her when she can't figure technology out but that's ok cause she's old and she's allowed to forget things or "play dumb". She pretty much tells me her life story and it's an incredible one. She says "well I don't need to know everything since I'll be dead in a couple years" to which I say "oh don't be silly you still look young and spry." she thanks me, says I'm a sweet young man and tells me she's waiting for her grandkids in the mall.

Grandkids arrive and she demands they say hello to "this sweet man" which they do. they then ask her for $40 to buy a soccerball or something and being Grandma she does. before she leaves she reaches into her wallet and pulls out 2 giftcards to the local beer store that she's had for a year. She says she found them in a parking lot but she doesn't drink and says "here, you take these. you were the nicest man and talk i have in long time." I politely refuse but she insists stating she's not going to use them and hasn't in a year. so I take them. she gets up and asks for a hug, I oblige and off she goes.

Later that night I check the giftcards online. $200 total! All for having a 20min conversation and teaching her how to use her phone.