At P-Coffee in Manhattan, Ben lends a compassionate ear to Sophia, a teenager grappling with her parents' impending divorce. Discover how a simple act of kindness and a heartfelt message could bring hope and change to a troubled family.
At noon when Ben arrived at his coffee shop, he saw a round table occupied by three girls. Two of the girls were ten years old, while the other was a teenager who looked like a high school student. Ben recognized the two young girls. One of them wearing a Micky Mouse headband was the daughter of a young banker, a loyal P-Coffee customer. The girl's name was Emily. Emily sat next to a teenage girl with shoulder-length blonde hair whom Ben didn't recognize.
It didn't take long. Emily noticed Ben's arrival. The little girl slowly left her table with a donut in her right hand.
Emily: I'll probably be here longer, waiting for you. Besides, big brother hasn't calmed down yet." Emily said as she glanced at the blonde teenager.
Emily: She's my friend Ava's older sister. Her name is Sophia.
Ben: Yes, you can stay longer here, Emily. Your house isn't far from here either. So there's nothing to worry about.
Ben then took a quick glance at Sophia. Sophia banged her phone against her head and then lay limply on the table with her hand twirling the spoon in the coffee cup.
Ben: (looking at Emily) What's wrong with that girl?
Emily: I don't fully know, and neither does my friend who is her sister. But Sophia mentioned the word reconcile several times. That word sounds complicated for a girl my age.
Ben realized that he couldn't force Emily to talk further. Ben looked towards Sophia's table and intended to approach her. He knew that it was very rude to meddle in the affairs of strangers. But letting Sophia spend too long with two little girls in a coffee shop wasn't good either. Moreover, the office workers in New York were about to go home and many workers chose to open conversations at the coffee shop.
Ben: (bowing his head in front of Sophia) Emily told me that you are facing a complicated problem. Would you mind telling me about it? Who knows I can help. I mean, P Coffee has customers from all walks of life. So, who knows I can connect you with the right person.
Sophia: (tying her hair) Emily was lucky that she had the courage to talk to people when she was young. I wasn't that lucky. I mean, my parents didn't teach me that at home. They were both very busy in their own way. So, I can't talk much with strangers. I'm sorry.
Ben then took the chair that Emily had been sitting on. He deliberately moved the chair away from Sophia. So that she wouldn't feel intimidated.
Ben: You know! One stitch sometimes completes ten stitches. My message is that since you're an adult, it's only right that you share a bit of your story with others.
Sophia: (exhales) Emily is my good neighbor. When she was a baby, I used to hold her, but now she's growing up happily and luckily she shares that happiness with my sister. The point is, my family isn't as lucky as Emily's. Even my mom and dad are planning to go to court for a divorce. Last night, when my sister was fast asleep, they woke me up, invited me to the dining table. Then they told me that I had two weeks to choose who I would live with. With mom or dad.
Ben: So, right now you're thinking about who would be best between your mom and dad. But it sounds like you're also hoping your parents reconcile. Isn't that right?
Sophia. Of course I hope they reconcile. But if something bad happens, I don't need much time to think about who's better between mom or dad. I prefer dad.
Ben: Why?
Sophia: Because in my opinion, my father's shortcoming is that he's a busy person. While my mom has a history of alcoholism. Before she got married, she worked in a casino. But when she got married, she stopped drinking alcohol. Maybe because my dad was getting busier, my mom felt lonely. The problem became worse when my mom connected with her past friends on social media. Some of her friends were still addicted to alcohol and some were gambling online.
Ben gave Sophia the number of a psychologist before she left P-Coffe. He advised her to share her problems with the psychologist. In addition, Ben also left a t-shirt for Sophia. The shirt reads "Work Can Wait, Hugs Can't".
"Give this shirt to your father. The message is very touching. Maybe your father will change afterward."
What's the Point of This Story
Children whose parents work too much can feel neglected and lack the attention and love they need. This has a number of effects on the child, one of which is psychological.
Children who feel neglected due to their parents' busy work schedules may experience emotional problems such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
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If you were touched by Sophia's story, Show your support by purchasing our "Work Can Wait, Hugs Can't" t-shirt.Your purchase not only helps spread a powerful message but also supports our efforts to bring more heartwarming stories to life.
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Thank you for reading this imaginary dialog.
