She was about three. She had had enough and decided to say so. She opened her mouth comically wide to give it the best wail she had–
–when some random white-haired lady tried to offer a finger puppet to her mom. The distraction totally stopped her.
The mom wanted it, she almost let me give it to her, but she wasn’t sure she understood what the expected transaction was going to be here no matter what I said and decided no, with a smile. She didn’t have to say, Besides–my kid’s being good now. She appreciated the offer. We parted with a smile.
Then in that same aisle at Costco I tried to reach something my husband wanted. It was stacked in the refrigeration unit so tightly that it wouldn’t come out and so high at the top that after several tries I thought, oh well, and started to turn away.
Just then a man who’d watched the whole finger puppet thing stepped up and offered to get that down for me. And did. I thanked him, and every time we passed each other after that we gave each other the biggest smile. Thank you for your kindness.
Past the nuts, past the bread…
A grandma was being delighted by her little granddaughter in her cart. The two of them said, Thank you! together and with that, they redeemed that same finger puppet with its curly antlers and big eyes that wanted to look into a child’s and be her friend.
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I owe you a better picture. Here you go.