I decided that my wonderful reader, DJan, is right. My recent posts have gotten very introspective (her term) and are teetering toward the morose (mine). Today I just wanted to have some fun: make someone’s day. And, in the process, my own.

As soon as I left work I saw the guy I was looking for. He was sitting on the low wall behind Denny’s, like maybe he was waiting for someone. He had a phone in his hand and a backpack at his feet. There was a cheerful good-natured vibe about him that drew me in.

“Hey!” I greeted, walking past him and slowing down. He looked up from his phone. “What are you up to?” he asked, rather unexpectedly. I told him I was just heading home from work and how about him? “Oh, I am just enjoying this beautiful day! Now that summer finally decided to arrive!” He had a huge smile and was wearing a cap that said “RARE” in big purple letters.

I asked him about his cap and we talked about the meaning of the term “rare”. Special, hard to find. That’s what we settled on. Then I told him I had something for him; a gift. He got real serious. “Okaaay,” he said. “Gifts are good.”

I told him I was paying forward a gift from my mother and I gave him the hundred. “For real?” he squeaked. I laughed and said it was legit. For him. Just for no special reason.

He reached out to shake my hand and told me he has a shop up on MLK called the Capital Building. “Come by sometime,” he offered. “I’ll give you a t-shirt.” I said that sounded good. He said his name is Aidan and asked me mine. I asked if I could take his picture. “You’re a handsome guy, you know,” I told him.

A car had pulled up next to the curb and was just sitting there. “You should tell that to my girlfriend,” he laughed, scooting his eyes over to the car. She was sitting behind the wheel, watching us with a curious expression on her face. He posed for my photo and then gathered up his stuff.

“She’s getting dinner!” he boasted. “AND a movie.” We shook hands again. Then they were gone.

Rare? Maybe. But I don’t really think so.