Under a canopy of leaves and surrounded by wild animals—a giraffe, elephant, zebra, and monkey—high pitched screams filled our ears. Only a few feet from us a gaggle of young children gathered.
Seven Happy Meals beckoned. Small hands dipped into colorful bags for food and toys. For a few minutes, play was suspended. They giggled and ate while enjoying Emily’s fourth birthday party. Seated along the wall ten adults consumed other McDonalds’ specialties.
Hardly taking time to finish eating, eager children returned to the two story playground—running and yelling with glee.
Dessert brought them back. While adults savored hot fudge sundaes and McFlurries, the youngsters delighted in tall, swirled cones. I watched Ashlyn and Emily carefully eat their ice cream. Wayward drips were instantly wiped away. I was amazed at how neat and tidy they were.
Another surprise awaited me at a nearby table. Emily’s four year old friend and her toddler brother sat side by side. She held her cone and licked one side. Then she leaned toward him so he could lick the opposite side. Like a choreographed dance the cone moved rhythmically from one child to the other. Her licks were bigger and took a little longer. Anticipating the next bite, his tiny mouth opened wide like a bird waiting for a worm. His little tongue wagged wildly begging for another taste. No words were spoken, but the love between them touched my heart.
After a few minutes, his six year old sister handed him her entire cone. With increased joy, he licked and licked until she retrieved it.
Later Emily opened her birthday presents. But I had received an unexpected gift by watching the sweet sharing between a little boy and his sisters. If only adults could be so generous and kind, with no expectation of anything in return.
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