See Also:
Beginning of a Hero: The Fred Rogers Story.
Life Lesson #17 – If You Don’t Like It, Change It.
Jamie and his dad were standing in line waiting for the lady at the register to take their order for lunch. It was something they had always done—a father and son day one Saturday a month, rain or shine. The man in front of them had just ordered two grilled chicken sandwiches and two orders of fries. When the lady repeated back the order, the man became very angry, and said, “ONE order of fries, ONE order of fries, don’t you listen?!” And then he said some other things to her that brought tears to her eyes. “Dad, that man said two orders of fries, I heard him,” said Jamie.
“I know, I heard him, too.”
“But, Dad, he’s acting like a bully—can grown-ups be bullies, too?!”
“OH yeah,” said his dad. Yes we can.”
Well, it was now their turn to order lunch, and Jamie’s dad, being as friendly as he possibly could, placed the order. And then he said to the lady, “I would like to apologize for that man who was just here, since he doesn’t seem willing to apologize for himself.” The lady smiled through the tears that were still in her eyes, and thanked him. “Look,” he said, “I have a couple of free passes to the movie theater—maybe you can use one and invite a friend to go along.”
The lady’s tears came back a little, and then she said quietly, “Thanks, you’re very kind.”
Jamie knew that he and his dad had planned to use those movie passes that evening, but you know what? He didn’t mind at all. What he had seen that day meant more to him than any movie could! All in the same two minutes he had seen a first class bully, and a first class hero. Jamie always thought he wanted to grow up to be just like his dad—now, he knew it, without a doubt!
– Jim Lord