It was around 4:20pm. After-school lull. Only a few tables filled. A woman came in with a little boy scanning the room. He kept counting chairs. Stopping. Starting again. “One kids’ meal,” she said. Then quietly added, “Can he pick where we sit first?” I asked why. She said softly, “If he doesn’t feel settled, he won’t eat at all.” I rang it up. She checked the total. Opened her wallet. Mostly singles. Some coins. Short again. She sighed and said, “That’s okay. We’ll just share.” I told her to g