I won't name the restaurant, but the name is sort of Scottish and serves a Kroc of hamburgers.

I won't name the city, but you pass through it on Academy in Fresno County between 168 and Manning.

I will name the issue because it flabbergasted me and I am not easily flabbergasted.

I took my grandson there Sunday afternoon for small pieces of chicken which are prominent on their menu. They have a "Place" to "Play"

He likes ranch dressing on everything. It has never been a problem at other "Places" to "Play" hamburger establishments whose name starts with an "M" and ends with an "S" in Clovis, Fresno, or anywhere else in the world I have been.

So, I was a bit shocked when a very sweet, nice, and almost apologetic young lady behind the register said, "I have to charge you 24 cents for that."

I asked her to repeat herself. Surely I had misunderstood.

"It comes with … " and she listed 5 or six dipping sauces of equal or greater value. "Ranch is extra."

I said, "OK" since my mission was to feed the boy and provide him with the dipping sauce of his choice.

She smiled. I smiled.

Then I went away and stewed and beat myself for it.

"It is only 24 cents. Don't be such a jerk," I said to myself.

I retorted, "Yes, but there are many more McD places around here that don't have such a rinky dink policy and I don't have to come back to this one."

I told my wife, thinking this was a fluke. She said, "No. I had the same thing happen. I went to the manager and got the Ranch, but only because I complained."

Why am I so aggravated over 24 cents?

I hate to see otherwise good businesses shoot themselves in the feet over pettiness. I hate to see great companies have their name sullied when they have always had a good reputation for customer service and excellence in providing for customer needs.

Mostly, I just get a little concerned that this is the sort of narrow thinking that drags people down in our larger society. It is a mentality that stifles excellence, displaces priorities, and forgets that every business exists to serve.

I think we can all do better. I hope they will.