We had a pretty quiet day yesterday. I helped a friend with a project yesterday afternoon, and Michael had a friend over.
By late afternoon it was pouring rain. I got home and Mother said she needed some things at CVS. So Michael and I headed over there.
I was thinking they closed at 6, and when I walked in I asked the young black man at the front, and he said nope, they were open until 10. The pharmacy closed at 6. I got the things Mother needed and we headed up to the cash register. There were no folks in the store.
I was thinking of running Michael over to Sports Authority to get a new shock absorber for his tennis raquet, but I hated going all the way over there in the rain and the dark, if his match wasn't going forward. Michael and I talked about it for a moment.
I finally asked the young man, "You don't happen to know what the weather forecast is for tomorrow, do you?"I figured if it was going to be raining all day, the tennis match would likely cancel and therefore it was not urgent that we go to Sports Authority right then.
He whipped out his phone and started pressing buttons and in a moment he told us the forecast for the entire week.
"Thanks, wow, great service!" I said, chuckling. "We are just trying to figure out if he has a tennis match tomorrow," I said, unloading the buggy.
As he rang up the purchases, the young man talked to Michael. "So you play tennis? Who do you play for?" he said.
They chatted for a moment. I swiped my debit card. Michael took the bags to carry to the car for us. As we got ready to leave, the young man looked intently at Michael.
"I want to tell you something, man. I come from the meanest streets in the world, Chicago. I grew up in poverty and violence you can't imagine. You need to take advantage of every opportunity you have, in education and job-wise. You go to school. You use that tennis ability. You take care of your mother."
I was so touched. "Wow, I wish you could come speak to some of the kids at his high school, tell them to stay in school," I said.
He nodded, very serious. "I know I look younger, but I am 26 years old. I wish somebody had talked to me when I was his age and told me these things."
He looked at Michael. "You take advantage of every opportunity. Don't be like me."
Michael and I thanked him and we walked out to the car. We sat there for a few minutes and talked before heading home.
"You know why he said that to you?" I asked Michael. He shrugged. "Because he is probably making less than $10 an hour, and it's hard to live on that," I said. "That's why school is important."
Michael was quiet and thoughtful on the way home.
Bless that young man.
