Slow? Like Forrest, it's people like this that do a damn good job reminding the rest of us what life is really all about - help other people, don't make a mess, and nothing beats a well-earned cookie. I say hats off to him. Maybe we're actually the *slow* ones, running around pointlessly, being rude and sloppy. We could use more like him (and his Momma).

I find that people with "differences" (or whatever is P.C. these days) tend to be the most polite and friendly, whether they're my customers or I'm theirs. They try to be kind and courteous, and it shows. I appreciate that more than I can express.

And I have to admit your story brought a little tear to my eye.

Maybe they're not actually slow.
Maybe it's just everyone else being too busy rushing around and being dicks?
Who knows.

I wish there were more people like this in the world. I remember a guy from the city I used to love. His name was Benny and as he said "Ebe'buddy know me" and he was so sweet and nice. Just talked to you about anything. My ex-husband couldn't handle him though, he was just "weirded out" by the guy. Which was kind of sad, because I liked when Benny would come up to me for a chat and say how beautiful my daughters were.

Nah, "slow" people can be jerks, too. What, just because you're different, you've suddenly got to be an angel? Not so. People are just people and that's all; they make the same moral choices as anybody else. But this particular guy (and his mom) obviously made the right choices.

I work for the same company you do Buck Bait. :D

@Lori -- and often times we have to work twice as hard just to keep up with you "normal" folks.

MrSpellcheck is unfortunately right. Back when I was in school that happened to me. There was a "slow" (what do you say these days?) guy in a wheelchair, and every day I'd return his tray to the kitchen because it was hard for him to do. He ended up asking me to prom (which I had no intention of attending anyway), and saying no was...difficult.

Wow. I'm going to kidnap that guy and have him teach my son how to clean house. Either that or I'll kidnap him myself and let him out every Saturday to clean my apartment. I'm still sore from last weekend.

I believe the PC term now is "mentally challenged", but don't quote me.

My brother is believed to have one of the Autism Spectrums, and he is a real jerk. Very self-centered and lazy. It didn't help that growing up my mom spent his whole life telling him he was "different" and that he didn't need to do things like other kids because of it, so things can go both ways. I'm glad you had a good experience and met someone who was raised right. I wish there were more mothers out there doing the right thing.

Oh, no question he deserved the cookie that day. My 'heads-up' was just that, nothing more.

Glad to hear that he works, but is Wally World going to his strengths? If they've got him stuck at greeter, maybe his mom could see about having them try him at stocking or keeping shelves orderly?

Cudos for treating him like a human being. That happens too little these days.

This story is awesome.

There's a home that always coming shopping with some of the more highly functioning patients. One of the kids used to creep me out because he asked me what car I drove and if it had an alarm, but then one day he asked me if I was married. I said no, and then he asked my supervisor (who is like 24, we used to be friends but I hooked up with her friend who used to work at Costco and now we don't speak) if she was married. When she said she wasn't, he asked her why she hasn't married me yet.