There was a guy in our office. Well, a man really, 36 years old. But he was different.
To be straightforward, he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Not smart at all, in fact! But I hired him six years ago and never had any regrets. The intriguing part was that he knew he wasn’t bright and didn’t hide it. Moreover, when he applied for the job, the first thing he said to me was:
– Hello! I’m not smart, and I’m not ashamed of it. But I need a job so I can buy medicine for my mum, she can’t work anymore.
It took me by surprise, but I realized he was genuinely in need. Yet, I believed he could handle some simple tasks reasonably well. He reminded me of Dustin Hoffman’s character in the movie “Rain Man,” a favorite of mine. I immediately grasped who was in front of me and didn’t want to hurt his feelings…
– You are smarter than most people out there who desperately try to disguise their foolishness, yet fail. Okay, come to work starting tomorrow.
Since then, he’s been with us like a family member. For six years, he worked alongside everyone else. Sure, he was different, but honest, decent, punctual, and in my view, the best employee I had. He got his mum back on her feet after a stroke, though he needed some help with medication and therapists. Yet, he did most of it himself and never once complained about how tough it was. The whole office loved and embraced him like one of their own! They even cared for him so well, he put on weight, going from 165 pounds to 220 pounds! We even started to look alike in some ways!
Yes, back to the point… The day before yesterday, when I visited the office after a long break, my assistant hit me with news right away…
– David is resigning! Could you convince him to stay??! How will we manage without him?!
I was taken aback! Resigning??? Where??? Why??? I asked them to call him into my office. He came in about ten minutes later, his head hanging so low that his chin was almost on his chest. He stood there, avoiding eye contact…
– David! What’s going on??? What’s bothering you? Did someone hurt you? Just point them out, and half the office will be out!
– No, no, please don’t, I love them all. It’s just… I… well…
– Don’t drag it out, tell me what’s up? Are there issues with your mum?
– No, everything is fine with Mum, thank you… I want to get married!
And then I froze, like a glitching iPhone! The question “how come, getting married?” was on the tip of my tongue. But who am I to ask such a thing? He is just as human as I am, with all the same desires, but it did catch me off guard.
– A necessary step, I hope it’s not just you wanting this, but also your potential bride, if she’s already in your plans, feels the same?
– Yes, of course!!! She’s been inviting me and Mum to Sweden for a year now. She loves me and my mum!
Oh dear, I wasn’t liking this at all… Inviting a person with such vulnerabilities, and mum, to Sweden… It sounded intense!
– Must be a good girl if you’re planning to go with your mum!
– She’s beautiful, has red hair, and is smarter than me! Let me show you a photo.
And with that, he pulls out an iPhone 7 from his pocket! Wow, I thought, not bad! All these years, he had a flip phone we tried to replace countless times with a proper one! We even gave him a new Samsung for his birthday, and I passed on my Xperia Z3 when I upgraded. He wouldn’t budge. We understood it might be hard for him, so we didn’t push. But now… an iPhone 7!!! Before I could even ask, he was explaining…
– Caroline gave this to me, filled with photos so I wouldn’t get lonely…
At that moment, my mind swirled with dreadful thoughts. I half-expected to see a poster-like Pamela Anderson. But what I saw left me speechless: a red-haired girl with the distinct traits of people with a known condition. I call them “Bright Souls.”
They aren’t to blame for having one extra chromosome. Otherwise, they’re just like us, even better in some ways! At least they don’t think we’re foolish just because we have one less chromosome! Though by that logic, they could. But in reality, they are incredibly lovely and harmless people. What I especially cherish is their perpetual smile! To me, the smiles of “Sunshine People” are much kinder than the forced grins often worn by those around us, who might curse under their breath the moment you turn your back!
– Truly stunning! You’re a lucky man! If it’s all as you say, I’ll reluctantly let you go as your boss but with great joy as a fellow person, to be with your lovely girl! If you don’t mind, I’ll call your mum, clarify a few things, and book flights for both of you. Deal?
David, always cheerful and smiling…, but I’d never seen such happiness on his face! For that smile, I would have sent him anywhere, no matter the cost! He clapped his hands like a child and dialled his mum’s number on his iPhone before handing it to me. What’s more, the reason I consider them wiser than us, is his gesture of leaving the room! He knew the conversation was about him, yet he understood that I couldn’t comfortably speak of him in his presence! Which ordinary person would do the same?! None, they’d linger trying to overhear! Uncommon folks! Smart! Considerate!
Why shouldn’t they be as happy as others around??? I’ll go further, such people are often much happier in families than we are, as they don’t lie, they don’t yell at each other, but they know how to love and be loyal!
And who’s smarter and who’s not??? I believe the answer is clear!))
And yes, I talked to his mum, as it turns out, she already knew the girl well, leaving no room for doubts…, tomorrow, in fact today at 8 am, I’m taking my former employee and his mum to Heathrow, where they’ll catch a flight to Stockholm at 11:25. They’ll be happy all together, and I’ll be here, happy for all of them! But, come March, if nothing changes, I’m flying to Stockholm myself to witness my best and most positive employee getting married!
When you see people like this, you won’t hesitate to give your time, money, or effort, just to make their life a little better! Then you look around and see those who mistake your kindness for weakness and try to ruin your spirit. You look at them and see nothing, because they are nothing, they don’t exist to you! But, more good people exist. That’s why this wretched planet keeps turning…
I’ll go make a huge pot of coffee, so I don’t fall asleep and miss the airport!
