Flawless Timing

The little boy with the bright red shirt edged his way closer to the self-serve drink machine. Then down the row he went. He was barely tall enough to reach the buttons, but he managed to make himself a custom mix. Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Lemonade, Hi-C, and even a little bit of water went into the mix. When the drink was thoroughly mixed, and the little boy was happily slurping away, he decided to lay hands on the ice handle. Little by little, he began to build his mountain of ice in the tray.

And I continued to watch.

Where in the world was this little boy’s mother?? Oh, she was there alright. But her back was turned, and she had done what so many parents I have observed over the years have done. She had tuned him out while she was happily chatting with someone else. Just as she turned around, and just as the little boy’s dad came out of the restroom—I was SURE someone was about to get busted—the little boy quit! It was nary a second too soon either, for it was at the PRECISE moment he needed to stop to avoid any and all cross words. And no one was the wiser. Except for me.

And I want to know how he did that. My timing always tends to be just a little too late.