ANDY SMALLMAN table we tried hard not to stare, each of us individually excited, the collective excitement seeming to scream out our presence. It went down just as you’d expect it to, the person ordered her drink, was told it had been paid for and that she was a kindness “victim.” At first she didn’t seem to understand, then took a second to see if it was some kind of joke. Assured it was legit, she accepted her drink and with a warm smile she walked out of the store. All of this took less than two minutes. Upon her exit, we exploded with happiness. The barista waved to us and we walked out, united in what felt to us was an act of superhero proportions. The elders seemed younger and the teens wiser. It wasn’t 4 teens, 4 elders and me anymore. It was 9 people who slowly floated back to the reality of the retirement community.
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