a curly-haired seven year-old was in the trendy williamsburg boutique catbird when he saw a locket in a candy dish he thought it would make a perfect mother's day gift, so he took it and brought it home. (happy mother's day!) when his family realized that the gift was as hot as it was heartfelt they made the boy bring it back, which he did along with a note: "dear catbird people. sorry I took the locket. my sister said what is a good mother's day gift? that day i thought that the locket would be a great present, so i picked one and i didn't know they cost anything so i put it in my pocket."
staffers said the youngster handed over the $15 locket when he came in with his dad, who nudged him toward the sales counter where, standing three-feet tall and a little teary-eyed, he told the clerk "i have something for you." the store clerk said : "thank you for doing the right thing."
according to the store's blog (where they posted the apology letter) they won't be pressing charges. "sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. or, at least the cost of a $15 locket," they wrote. "have you seen anything sweeter?" the owner said that indeed the necklace was in a candy dish on a table and the kid could have mistaken for something free. additionally, he feels that this is a valuable experience the boy won't soon forget.
the neighborhood has had some recent issues of shoplifting and some co-workers at the boutique hope that their forgiving nature will not come back to haunt them. "we do have some shoplifting in here, but it's usually adults. it's not a major issue...but after people find out about this, every shoplifter in the city is going to come to the store because we are so lenient."
my point, and i do have one...is, i think that this scenario showed the best in all involved. the boy for wanting to do something nice for his mom, the parents for first identifying that the gift was stolen and then making him bring it back, the store owner for keeping it all in perspective and not pressing charges and then, hopefully in the end, the boy learning a valuable lesson. (that all being said, dude...you totally threw your sister under the bus in that note, like if she didn't make you think about what a good gift was you wouldn't have stolen it - ha!) what is your point?
A sweet story with a happy ending. How rare.
ReplyDeleteyeah - i agree, everyone did the right thing. shoplifting is stealing, and what's important is that the child learns that lesson. pressing charges would have been too much. i also don't think this will come back to haunt the store with more people shoplifting...
ReplyDeletewow, what a great story. first of all, i was impressed by the parents! i thought most of parents now care more about the reputation than doing right things. especially, when the rocket costs only $15, some parents might think it is better to be quiet than broadcasting it to the public (the others) even though they might teach their kids a lesson at home. the next lesson he might need to learn is that doing right things does not always bring a happy endings....(case by case, you know!). when he learns it....welcome to adulthood!
ReplyDeletechiz, i couldn't agree with you more!
ReplyDeleteIt is just a matter of time before that kid is sharing a cell with a guy named "bubba"
ReplyDelete