There was a guy in our office. Well, not really a guy, a grown man of 36 years. But he was a bit unusual.
To be straightforward, he wasn’t the brightest by nature. I mean, really not smart, like at all! Yet, I hired him six years ago and never regretted it. The most interesting part was that he knew he wasn’t clever and made no effort to hide it. In fact, when he first came in to apply for the job, the first thing he said to me was…
“Hello! I’m not very smart and I don’t hide it. But I need a job to buy medicine for my mum, as she can no longer work.”
I was a bit taken aback by this, but somehow, I understood where he was coming from. He reminded me of Dustin Hoffman’s character in the cherished film “Rain Man.” I immediately grasped who I was dealing with and had no wish to offend him…
“You know, you’re smarter than a great many people who try to cover their foolishness without success. Okay, start from tomorrow.”
Since that day, he was part of our team, like a son of the office family. Over these six years, he worked just like the rest of us. Not quite like everyone else, but loyal, honest, and punctual, and in my eyes, the best worker I’ve ever had. He helped his mum stand on her own after a stroke, though we did lend a hand with some medication and therapies. Yet, he did most things on his own and never once complained about it being difficult! The entire office adored him and grew attached to him like he was one of our own. We even managed to feed him up from 75 kg to a hearty 100! We grew to resemble each other quite a bit.
Oh, I’m digressing… The other day, when I returned to the office after a long absence, my assistant hit me with unexpected news…
“Owen has resigned! Can you persuade him to stay? What will we do without him?!”
I was stunned! How’s he resigning?? Where to??? Why??? I asked to have him called into my office. In he came about ten minutes later, head hanging so low his chin nearly touched his chest, unable to meet my eyes…
“Owen, what’s going on??? What’s troubling you? Did someone upset you? Just point them out, and I’ll sack half the office in a heartbeat!”
“No, no, please don’t! I love them all. It’s just that… um… well…”
“Come on, out with it! Is there an issue with your mum?”
“No, she’s fine, thank you… I want to get married!”
And there I was, caught like a glitching computer! The immediate question was, “how so, getting married?” But who was I to ask that? He was just a human like me, and nothing human was alien to him. Yet, it got to me a bit.
“A worthy cause. I hope you and your potential bride, if there is one, are both keen on the idea?”
“Of course! She’s been inviting me to live with her for a year and wants my mum to come along too. She loves me and my mum!”
Oh boy, something about this started to trouble me… An autistic fellow, to move to Sweden…, and with his mum… Strange.
“She must be a lovely girl since you’re planning to go there with your mum.”
“She is really beautiful, with red hair and smarter than me! Let me show you her picture.”
And then he pulls out an iPhone 7 from his pocket! Wow, I thought. All these years, he’d been using an old flip phone, a Razr, which we had tried in vain to swap out for a regular phone! Even when we gifted him a new Samsung for his birthday, he barely looked at it. I even gave him my old Sony when I upgraded, but he just couldn’t make the switch to smartphones. We understood it was hard for him, so we didn’t force it. But now… An iPhone 7! I didn’t even have time to ask before he answered…
“Caroline got it for me and loaded it with her photos so I wouldn’t miss her.”
At that moment, my mind swirled with all sorts of thoughts. I half-expected to see some poster gal like Pamela Anderson posing provocatively. But what I saw shocked me! A red-haired woman with the distinct features associated with a well-known syndrome. I always refer to them as “Radiant people.”
It’s not their fault they have an extra chromosome. In every other way, they are just like us, and in some ways, even surpass us! At the very least, they don’t look down on us, even though, logically, they easily could. But in reality, they are pleasant and harmless individuals. What I admire most about them is that they always smile! For me, the smiles of these “Radiant People” are much more genuine than the forced ones we see around us, from people who might curse us behind our backs!
“She’s truly stunning! You’ve hit the jackpot! If everything is as you say, I will have mixed feelings as your boss, yet be utterly joyful as a person to let you go to your lovely lady! Would you mind if I call your mum to confirm some details and get you both plane tickets?”
Owen was always a cheerful fellow, but the bliss on his face this time was something else! For the chance to see such happiness, I would send him anywhere, to Brazil or beyond, no matter the cost! He clapped his hands like a child and dialed his mum’s number on his phone, handing it to me. What impressed me most was his understanding. He passed me the phone and left the room! He knew the conversation would be about him, yet understood that speaking about him in the third person would be tough for me! Would any regular person do the same? No, they’d linger, trying to overhear everything! Incredible people! Intelligent! Considerate!
And why should they not be as happy as everyone else around them?? I dare say such people are happier in their relationships than we often are, for they don’t lie, don’t yell at one another, but instead love deeply and are truly loyal!
So, who of us is truly smarter, and who isn’t? I hope it’s clear now! And yes, I spoke with his mum, who said she already knew the girl well, leaving no room for doubt… Tomorrow, or rather this morning at 8 AM, I’ll drive my former employee and his mum to Heathrow, and by 11:25, they’ll be off to Stockholm. They will find happiness together, and I will relish their joy from here! However, if nothing changes, I plan to fly over in March to preside over my most outstanding and uplifting employee’s nuptials!
Looking at these individuals, I don’t mind sparing time, money, or effort if it contributes to bettering their lives! Then you look around and see those who mistake kindness for weakness, those who’d insult your soul without a second thought, and to you, they’re nothing! They simply don’t exist! Thankfully, there are more good people, and it’s for them the world keeps turning…
I think I’ll brew a vat of coffee to stay awake and not miss the airport!
