We only stopped by the bank for five minutes. Just five.
I asked my young son to stay close while I used the ATM in the lobby. He was full of energy that day—curious, chatty, asking questions about everything from ceiling fans to how the machine “makes money come out of the wall.”
The next moment, I turned around and saw him deep in conversation with two California Highway Patrol officers standing near the entrance. At first, I panicked, ready to apologize for the interruption. But before I could say a word, one of the officers knelt down and handed my son a shiny sticker badge.
That was all it took. Instant connection.
My son beamed with pride, chest puffed out like he’d just been sworn in. He started peppering them with questions: about their radios, their patrol cars, and—this part made everyone laugh—whether they “eat donuts or just save them for emergencies.”
The laughter from the officers echoed through the quiet bank lobby, and I felt a moment of warmth I hadn’t expected. These two professionals, clearly in the middle of their day, had taken a genuine interest in my son’s curiosity. It was a brief exchange, but it meant everything.
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