It was pouring outside, like one of those days when you feel like the entire world would just crumble. My granddaughter was hungry, so I entered a café in order to feed her, but we were kicked out like we were a piece of trash, not two human beings in need of a quick stop during an awful weather. Next thing, someone called the cops on me and my face was all over the newspaper.
When I gave birth to my daughter, Sarah, I was 41. And yes, I was a proud mother to an awesome child. Everyone who had ever met my girl praised her for her generosity and kindness. She truly was one of a kind.
At 31, she fell pregnant. The moment I learned I was going to become a grandmother was the best day of my life. Everything was about to change with a tiny bundle of joy being welcomed in our lives. Sadly, I had no idea that change would be a painful one.
My daughter died while giving birth.
In those moments of pain and grief, Sarah’s boyfriend said he couldn’t handle a child on his own. He simply wasn’t ready for being a single dad, so he asked me to take care of his and Sarah’s daughter. Without even realizing it, I became the baby’s sole guardian. And her father, well, he only sends small checks every month; money not even for diapers, let alone food, clothes, or toys.
Today, it’s just me and her, my Amy.
Things aren’t perfect because taking care of a baby at 72 is as hard as it sounds. But I’m the only person she has, and I try to stay strong for her, and that’s the only option, really.
That day at the pediatrician’s office didn’t go out as planned. Amy was unusually cranky. She just wouldn’t stop crying, and I prayed we go through her check-up as quickly as possible.
Once we were done, we got outside, but the weather was already horrible. It was raining heavily, and I had no idea what to do or how to get home. And that’s when I spotted a café nearby.
I covered Amy’s stroller with my coat and we entered the place.
It was one of those cozy places, perfect for a rainy day.
We found an empty seat near the window and I placed the stroller beside me. However, Amy started crying again, and she wouldn’t stop no matter what I did.
And then, just as I tried to feed the baby, the woman sitting opposite us made a loud comment. “Hey, lady. This isn’t day care. People come here to relax, not to listen to some baby screaming.”
The man who was with her said the same. “Why don’t you take that baby and just leave?”
I was so embarrassed that I wanted to disappear. But there was nowhere I could go at that rain.
“I’m sorry for her crying. She’s just hungry. Once I feed her she’ll stop,” I said.
“Couldn’t you do that in your car? Really? If you don’t know how to calm your baby why are you even taking it out?”
The waitress could hear the conversation before she even attended my table.
“Listen, lady, maybe it would be better to feed the baby outside and get inside once she calms down. You do see other customers complain.”
I looked around, hoping some of the guests would stand for an old lady and a baby, but no, that didn’t happen.
Honestly, I had no idea what to do at that moment. And while I was reconsidering my options, which were almost non-existent, two police officers entered the place. They looked around and then one of them turned to me and said, “Good afternoon, Ma’am. We were told you’re disturbing other customers here. Is that true?”
Oh God, could this really be happening? Did someone really called the police at a 72-year-old woman with a baby? Had this world gone mad all of a suddden?
“The manager spotted us outside and called us over. What is the problem here?” they asked.
“Officers, I was planning on ordering something. But I need to feed my granddaughter first. Once she has her mil she’ll fall asleep. I swear. There won’t be any trouble. It’s raining and I’m with a baby, don’t you understand?”
One of the officers turned to the waitress and said, “So you want to tell me the ‘disturbance’ was just a baby crying?”
The waitress nodded.
“Really? The manager said you caused a scene and refused to leave when asked,” he said to me.
“No, I swear that’s not what happened. I told the waitress I’ll order something the moment the baby is fed.”
The waitress then turned to the officers and said, “See, she won’t leave and the customers are getting angry.”
“Well, not as angry as that baby, who is clearly hungry,” the younger officer said, pointing to Amy.
“Know what? My sister has three kids. I’m a wizard with babies,” the officer said and took Amy. To everyone’s surprise, she called down immediately. “I guess the disturbance is over,” the officer said.
But still, the waitress and the manager insisted I needed to leave the place because I hadn’t ordered anything. As though I even had the chance to do it.
“You know what, bring us three cups of coffee and three slices of apple pie with ice cream. It’s cold outside, but ice cream and pie are always good for the soul,” the older officer said, then nodded toward his younger partner, who was still holding Amy, to join us at the table.
All of a sudden, both the waitress and the manager became polite.
The officers introduced themselves as Christopher and Alexander. We talked for a while and I shared how my daughter passed away at childbirth and how I ended up being my granddaughter’s guardian. I also explained what happened at the coffee place.
“Don’t worry ma’am. I just knew the manager made the situation sound way worse than it actually was the moment I entered the place,” Alexander said. “You are doing your best to take care of your granddaughter. You should be proud of yourself.”
Before the four of us left the place, Alexander asked me if he could take a photo of me and Amy. “For the report,” he said.
“Of course,” I said, “Go ahead.”
The had stopped already, and Amy and I headed home.
A few days later, I got a call from one of my neighbors. She was overly excited and kept asking me if I had seen it. “See what?” I asked, totally confused.
“Well, the newspaper,” she said.
“No, I haven’t. I barely have the time to have coffee, let alone read the newspaper.”
“Oh, Maggy. You are in the newspaper and your story is everywhere.”
It turned out that Alexander sent the photo of me and Amy to his sister, a local reporter. She was disturbed by the way we were treated at the coffee place and thought that sharing the story would help the community realize how vulnerable some of its members are. She wanted to remind everyone that we should be compassionate and kind. Because when you think about it, it’s those qualities in people that make this world go round.
A few days later, I met Alexander. He smiled at me and apologized for not asking me first before sending the photo to his sister. But I wasn’t mad, not at all. On the contrary, I was glad my story served as an example.
However, it turned out that people got mad at the cafe’s manager and the waitress, so they placed a sing on their door that read, “Babies are welcomed.”
Amy and I visited the coffee place a few days later. This time, the waitress greeted us with a smile. She tried to apologize for treating us badly, and I said it was fine. Well, everyone can make a mistake every now and then, right?
I ordered coffee and a piece of apple pie. When she brought the order, she said, “Enjoy it, it’s on the house.”
I was glad that the negative experience turned into something positive in the end.
And yes, I made sure I left a big tip that day.
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