Helping Hand at Hardware Store

I thought it might be of interest to people of all ages to know that many young people are fine, kind and upstanding. I’ve experienced their kindness often, most recently in a hardware store where I purchased a large, bulky boxed item.

Suddenly a young man (I imagine 12 to 14 years old) asked, “Can I carry that to your car for you?” His smile showed he would enjoy doing so. I told him I’d appreciate his doing so.

After he put the box in my car I shook his hand and asked if I could give him “some change for his help.” His answer was, “Oh, no, I like to do things to help people.”

I then told him that I’d have hugged him but that was afraid he’d feel embarrassed. He replied, “No, that wouldn’t happen.” I gave him a big hug, and I’m sure I enjoyed it a lot more than he did.

It’s good to know that at least some of our “men folks” realize it’s not sissy to be hugged in public, even by a stranger. I’m sure he is good to his mother. Whoever son and mother are, I say, “Thank you both.”

Keep living like that and you’ll make many people happy--and set an example that will, hopefully, rub off on others. Thanks, young man, for helping others live to be brighter. Keep on in that way.

DOROTHY McAVAY

Costa Mesa