Lost and Found

Today, when I made my daily pilgrimage to Dig Inn, for a standard, but healthy lunch that only sets me back $10.50, and gives me an additional 1200 steps for my FitBit obsession, I saw something that struck me.

There was a young-ish man standing at the take-out counter, and I paid attention to him because I thought he might be waiting for food, just like I was. 

He was a little chubby, and had reddish hair and a shirt that was ill-fitting, but I felt his embarrassment, although I couldn't peg what it was about him that needed to feel embarrassed.

As I checked to make sure he was taken care of, a worker came from the back and said, 'I'm sorry, sir, but I don't have anything.' 

For a second, I wondered if this early 20-something was trying to get a job application for this fast casual chain restaurant, and I felt the shame for him.

He walked away, and he made some weird mark on my brain. I thanked the worker for my pre-made, pre-ordered lunch (exactly the same as every other day: broiled chicken, summer couscous, and broccoli and garlic -- calorie count of 780, more or less), and I turned to walk out of the crowded store.

As I got to the door, I saw 20-something saying 'Thank you' to a single woman sitting at a table, reading a book, near the front door, and he had a very youthful velcroed  blue and white wallet in his hand. Apparently, Red Headed 20-Something had misplaced his outdated wallet in the store, and it had been left right where he left it -- at the table near the door where Single Reading Lady was  enjoying whatever it was she was reading.

20-something Red Head had a little flush to his cheeks, and I felt so happy for him. So relieved for him. And so encouraged for so many reasons:

1. No one had taken Red Head's silly wallet.

2. Reading Lady got to have human contact with someone other than her cat at home.

3. Most importantly, that feeling of dread 20-Something likely had was gone. And he could continue on with his day. Whatever those plans might be. But I thought about how anxious he probably was...worrying about canceling credit cards and insurance cards and maybe cash in there.

And Red Head may have gone back to an office and was able to focus on a cure for some horrible disease. Or he was able to create a really clever dating account for a personals website. Or he just was going to be able to sleep better tonight because his world was put right at 2:15 pm this afternoon.

And that is why I will never forget that 20-Something Red Head's slightly pudgy face, and all of the relief it spread to me in that fleeting moment.