Waitress Observes Unusual Man and Boy in Restaurant, Boy Appears Pale and Uninterested in the Food

A waitress in a hotel restaurant notices a man and his teenage son and discovers the reason behind the boy’s apparent sadness and disinterest in his food, a revelation that tugs at her heart.

Sarah found fulfillment in her job, recognizing that waitressing could be incredibly rewarding, especially in the environment where she was employed.

The majority of her customers at the seaside resort hotel were vacationers, typically in high spirits. However, when a man entered with his teenage son, she couldn’t help but notice the desperate gaze he directed at the boy. Despite ordering the house special, the man relished his meal while the boy merely shuffled his food around on the plate, his eyes reflecting even greater sadness than his father’s.

In a cheerful tone, Sarah inquired, “Wasn’t the pie good?” as she cleared the boy’s virtually untouched apple pie with ice cream. The boy blushed and let his fringe fall forward to conceal his face.

With a smile, the father responded, “The pie is great; it’s just that Kyle isn’t very hungry today.”

Choosing to offer support and encouragement, Sarah smiled and remarked, “You’d better have a bigger appetite for lunch tomorrow because we are featuring our barbecue special!”

The man replied, “We’ll do our best!” He then guided the boy towards the elevator leading to the rooms. A short while later, Sarah spotted him in the lobby, engaged in a serious conversation with the manager.

Returning to the restaurant, the man approached Sarah and asked, “Could I have a word with you?” Sarah noted his striking appearance, despite the underlying sadness, and appreciated the gentleness and kindness in his voice.

“Of course,” Sarah said.

“My son. He has leukemia, and he is here to undergo chemotherapy at the institute,” the man said in his quiet voice. “Tonight he wants to shave his head so he won’t feel the cancer is winning when his hair starts to fall out.

“I’ll be shaving my head too, so what I wanted to ask you is that you don’t comment on it. Please just act normal…”

Sarah nodded and replied, “Of course. Please don’t worry. I’ll talk to the rest of the staff too.”

The man smiled. “Thank you! I’m Oscar, by the way!” he said.

Sarah smiled back. “I’m Sarah… See you tomorrow!”

When they walked into the restaurant for breakfast the next morning, Oscar and Kyle were in for a surprise. Sarah had shaved her head too! She grinned at the bald-headed father and son and said, “I thought I’d join the club!”

Kyle started giggling. “You look so funny!” he cried.

Sarah placed her hands on her hips and gave him a mock frown. “FUNNY? I’ll have you know that this is what the best heads are wearing in Paris this season. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!”

Instead of brooding over his bald head, the boy was laughing at Sarah’s jokes, and Oscar threw her a grateful glance. Oscar had been raising Kyle alone since his wife had also died of cancer when their son was just seven.

When Kyle had been diagnosed, Oscar was devastated. He was facing the same enemy again, and this time he could lose all he had left, his beloved son. Sarah’s cheeky grin and her brave gesture uplifted his heart.

When Kyle went up to rest a while later, Oscar went back to the restaurant to talk to Sarah. “Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea what your gesture has meant for Kyle and for me. You sacrificed your beautiful hair…”

Sarah shook her head. “It was no sacrifice,” she explained. “I lost my mother to cancer when I was very young, and I remember her courage. She taught me everything I know about love. I just wanted to pass it on.”

Oscar had tears in his eyes and he gave Sarah a grateful hug. From that day on, Sarah became Kyle’s best friend, and when she had her day off, she would take father and son to see the local sights.

Fortunately, Kyle’s treatment went well, and the doctors declared that he was in remission. “But we’re coming back soon!” Kyle cried, and Oscar nodded.

“Yes, we’ll be back in two months,” Oscar said.