A Big Smile

It was my first time at the Farmers Market in the town I lived in. My wife usually goes but she sent me there because she was getting the house ready as our daughter was coming to visit us with her family. My wife had sent me on a mission to buy certain items. One was Kettle Corn. It was hot outside, the line was long, and I was tired. I decided to wait in the long line because wife said she’d kill me if I didn’t get some. Our grandchildren are spending the night tonight, so it would be a delightful treat as we watch the movies.

There is a lady in front of me. Her child is about sixteen years old, but he has the mind of a five-year-old. I could see that she was getting frustrated. She told teenager that she needs to get home to put the vegetables and chocolate milk in the refrigerator. But the boy wouldn’t let that happen. Each time she would try to grab his hand in an attempt to get him out of line, the boy would yell out. “Noooo, I want popcorn.” Poor lady gave up just to keep him quiet.

The lady finally gets to the front of the line and orders a bag up of Kettle Corn. There are two bags left on the table so I am feeling pretty grateful that I don’t have to wait much longer because I know that second bag will be mine. I see the man start to pop another round of Kettle Corn but that could take a while. I have been waiting at least 30 minutes in line, so I am hoping I won’t be disappointed, and it better be the best damn popcorn I have ever tasted.

As the lady is attempting to pull something out of her pocket, she drops the bag on the cement we all hear something break. It was a glass bottle full of chocolate milk. There were also vegetables in that bag. Then she started to hand white paper bills to the lady. The lady said to her, “I’m sorry we don’t take SNAP.

The women walked away and threw her bag away. The vegetables were ruined because they had shards of glass in them and were covered with chocolate milk. The whole time the boy is yelling, “I want popcorn.” And he keeps saying that over and over. I felt so bad for her.

Then it was finally my turn. I tell the lady at the counter that I’ll take a bag of kettle corn and start to give her six dollars. She tells me sorry that I would have to wait until the next batch is finished. She then grabs the two bags of Kettle Corn and runs them up to the lady and her son. When the boy saw the Kettle Corn, he quit steaming. He had the biggest smile. At that moment, everyone in that big line started to clap.

I learned the names later that the man and lady who ran the Kettle corn business, Donna and Joey. The woman and her son’s name were Sarah and Travis.

Everyone in that big line was watching We weren’t sure what the conversation was between these two ladies, but after about a minute they hugged each other and Sarah, and her son followed Donna to the vegetable stand. Donna talks to the gentlemen who were running the vegetable stand. They both nod their head and let Sarah take a bag full of vegetables. By then the guy who sells chocolate must have heard what happened. He came up to Sarah and gave her two glass jugs of chocolate milk. By then, Joey had finally finished a fresh batch of Kettle Corn. Everyone told Joey of what happened with Sarah and her son.

I remember Joey’s words, “That’s Donna and that is why I love her,”.

Joey apologized to everyone, but no one was upset. That was truly an act of kindness that made a big difference. Not only for Sarah and Travis, but for everyone who stood in that long line on a hot summer day. It was so nice to see that boy smile. Not one single person in that line left

The next summer Sarah and Travis moved to Seattle to start a new life. After eight years I get a big bag of Kettle Corn every week. I also buy two extras to pay it forward. I tell Joey and Donna to give one bag to a family with a child and one to a Veteran who served our country.

I think back to that moment of wondering was it worth the wait. Absolutely it was. Not only to see that big smile on that boy's face, but I am now friends with Donna, Joey and other vendors at the farmers market. And yes, it was damn good popcorn, the best I have ever tasted.

I wrote this story as told from the viewpoint of our friend John. He was the gentleman who stood in line behind Sarah and her son Travis. SNAP is a program that helps families in need buy food.

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