“I am sitting here, after dinner, and I am just so touched. I feel the good in the world I just witnessed must be shared.
My son, Bryson, is 11 years old. He is going through a lot right now — I would say more than typical 11-year-old boys. His father and I are steadily working with him. First and foremost, is manners. I am trying to point it out to him when I see it. (It’s not as rare as one might think when you go looking for it only to show reciprocation.) But Bryson does have a sense of anxiety in certain social situations. This is one of those situations.
So tonight, while wearing a mask, he asked if it was illegal for him to go in alone and order his own dinner (at Subway in Hudson, FL). I was like, ‘Nope! As long as you wear a mask and use your manners.’ We even joked about how it’s not ‘no shirt, no shoes, no service,’ but it’s ‘you must have a mask, manners, and money.’
So, we went across the parking lot for him to head in alone. We reviewed his bread and cheese preferences. As he walked away repeating, ‘Italian herbs and cheese, white American cheese…’ over and over. He was bouncing as he walked. I almost held my breath the entire time. He was in there for what seemed like forever, but it was not long at all, in reality.
We could see him in line with one gentleman in front of him. I was saying, ‘Stay six feet apart.’ He did. I watched him walk up to the front of the line and start making his way down, making his sandwich. He was seemingly making his way through it. I swear I’m about to have a meltdown from mommy mode. I see him hand her the crumpled up $10 bill. He waited calmly for his change. The person behind the counter got his change and then gave him his receipt. He squeezed his hand tight and came bopping out the door with a huge smile.
