The Kindness of Strangers

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by Merely Me
Sunday, June 07, 2009

We went to this playground one day and after he was done playing Max wanted to go to their concession stand.  The stand was not open yet but there was a very elderly looking man standing beside it.  He had a very pleasant face brimmed with a wide straw hat.  Max went to the empty counter and ordered popcorn and the man told him that they were not quite open yet.  So we went to a nearby picnic table and read Max a few of his books that we had brought along.

As we were reading the little old man with the wide brimmed hat came slowly up the hill carrying a big bag!  It was filled with popcorn.  He told us that if we didn't mind it being a day old that Max could have the whole bag.  I could tell that giving my son that popcorn, made this man's day.  He handed it over to my son's waiting hands as Max snatched it up.  And without even waiting for a thank you...the man sauntered back down the hill.  I asked my friend who that man was and she incredulously told me that it was the owner of the pool who she had previously described as the "pool nazi."  This gentle soul was the same man who was scolding the kids all day long and who my friend perceived as mean.

I didn't care who this man seemed to be to others. All I knew of him I learned that day. 

The pool nazi had shown kindness to my child and I was profoundly grateful.