It's the Little Things...

Not really a big deal, but I have to share what happened when Emmett and I were checking out at Dahl's (Ingersoll) this morning:

Emmett was asking over and over and over for a quarter...I was trying to pay for our groceries, and was getting pretty distracted by him (he kept wanting to reach over to grab something off the cashier's register because he thought it was gum). I was trying to remain calm because between him asking for a quarter, asking what's for dinner, and getting grabby...I realized I had no quarter (I'd emptied out all the change in my purse on Friday). So then I started telling Emmett I'd bring him back later (when I pick Elijah up from work) and he could have a quarter then...and he kept asking - but he wasn't upset or anything.

Then the young man bagging our groceries reached into his own pocket and gave Emmett a quarter. He was so kind and sweet about it. Emmett, smiling, bounded over to the gumball machine to get his treat, and I thanked the young man from the heart...as much as I could before getting all emotional.

It's little gestures like this that give me hope - that as people become more aware about autism and see others like him in the community, kindness and understanding will become the norm. Emmett's quite the spectacle at times: towering over me by almost a foot, dressed like Inez from Cyberchase, a little bit of jumping and hand flapping...he's one special dude...

...and so is that young man at the grocery store.

Like I said - not a big deal. But it kinda is.

UPDATE: I called the store this afternoon to get the young man's name...Matthew. Dahl's will be receiving a letter from me. 

Emmett, dressed as Inez from the PBS show, Cyberchase.
He wears this outfit practically EVERY DAY (not sure what
we'll do when winter comes!)