Browsing my library’s used book sale, I heard a mom digging through her bag for change – her son wanted 3 books. He looked about 10 or 11 years old, and when she gave up her search and said she must have given all her change to a homeless person, she asked if he <em>really</em> wanted the books. “YES!” He was emphatic.
They checked out at the station next to me, and when the mother tried to pay for the books with her credit card, the librarian sadly said they don’t charge less than mothering
I dug in my pocket and found the change I stashed there before heading to the library, just in case I found something good on the sale shelves. I’d heard that the books came to $1 (for 3 books! How awesome is the public library system?), so I said, “Excuse me,” and held out four quarters.
After a few exchanges, “Are you sure?” and “Thank you so much! I just gave all my change away!” I finished my own stack and told the librarian I, too, had a book to buy. So handed her my $5 bill, which she took and turned for the cash box before spinning around.
“You know what? Don’t worry about it. You can have it for free.”
The world is a pretty awesome place sometimes.
That is SO sweet! You made that little boys day!
I love everything about this story.
So awesome Jenny