Last night, I slipped away to a small cafe to do some writing and just have some me time.

While I was there, I noticed a group at a table that looked like a typical family; mother, dad and daughters (2).
The dad and mom were on their cell phone, the older girl was on another apparatus and the littlier girl kept trying to talk to her family but kept getting shut down. Finally, she excused herself and went into the bathroom. As I watched her go, I felt that I should follow her so I did. No one at the table noticed I followed their daughter into the bathroom- they were talking on the cells or texting.

I heard the sobbing as soon as the door shut. I stood there for a minute and said quietly “Hon is there anything I can do?” The girl (Jessica) I found out later was very quiet- so I just washed my hands and waited. Soon, she came out of the stall and stood by me. I told her I had noticed her at the table and she seemed to want to share something with her family. “no one would listen Jessica whispered. I just wanted to tell them I got an A in Math.”

When she announced she got an A- I clapped my hands and told her Good Job gal! I hate math and I know how hard it is for some people. How cool that you know what you are doing and your teacher recognizes that!” She got this beautiful smile across her face and said “Thanks.!” Then she asked me my name. I told her and then left the bathroom.

I was standing in line to pay my check and the family was behind me. As I turned to leave, Jessica said; “Bye Mary Anne!” I turned and smiled and told her goodbye.

Ironically, no one even noticed she knew my name. Dad was on the cell again, as was mom and sister was chatting with someone.

We become to connected with all these electronic gadgets and sometimes I wonder if we notice how disconnected we are becoming to what really matters in our world.