Lessons learned From a Young Boy: A Vendor Perplexed

I didn’t see it coming. That whole “how cute is he?” thing.

A young boy wandered into my Aging Schmaging tent and looked around. I was a vender at Parley Lake Winery enjoying the last vestiges of a warm autumn day.

He stared at my photographs, and then approached the table. “Does the candy cost anything?” he said. I had a small container of suckers, bite-sized candy bars, and Star Burst candies available for browsers. “No. Help yourself to a piece,” I said. He took a sour apple/caramel sucker. “Good choice!” I commented.

The young boy continued to look at my offerings. He poked a finger into a silk covered pillow. “How much are the pillows?” he asked. I met his gaze. “$30.”

He moved on. He looked at my midlife-themed women’s greeting cards. “Do you have anything that is… cheap?”

I gulped a little. I noted the crumpled 1-dollar bill in his hand. This young man had a little money to spend, and for some unknown reason wanted to spend it with me.

“No. I really don’t, “ I said. He nodded as if he understood, licked his sucker, and eventually wandered off with his money still in hand.

A short while later he came back. “My name is Jayden. I tried to get my dad to buy that pillow for me, but he wouldn’t. It’s so soft. ” He moseyed over and touched the pillow again.

By now I was dying to give him something…anything…just because he was so cute. My husband shook his head in a noooooooo gesture. He knows me too well. “Why don’t you take Jayden’s picture?” he said. Jayden brightened. I grabbed my camera and snapped his photo.

“Will I be on one of your cards?” he said.

“No,” I said, “but I’ll put you on Facebook.” He beamed.

Later that afternoon he had his portrait done by Deb Zeller and came running over to show me. “I had my picture done a couple years ago by someone else, but I like this one better.” I told him it was, indeed, a fine portrait.

I have no idea why Jayden found me so interesting. I have no idea where Jayden’s parents were. I only know he was so darn cute, so darn earnest, that he was the best part of my day.