We only meant to stop at the bank for five minutes. Just five.
I told my son to stay close while I used the ATM in the lobby. But he was in full-on question mode—squirmy, chatty, and wondering about everything from ceiling fans to how money magically comes out of the wall.
Next thing I know, I glance back—and there he is, deep in conversation with two California Highway Patrol officers near a table by the entrance, acting like he’s known them his whole life.
I froze for a second, ready to jump in and apologize for the interruption. But before I could even open my mouth, one of the officers knelt down, smiled, and handed him a shiny sticker badge.
That was all it took—they were instantly best buds.
My son’s chest puffed out with pride, like he’d just joined the force. He launched into a barrage of questions about their walkie-talkies, what all the buttons did, and—my favorite—whether they ate donuts or only kept them around for emergencies.
Both officers cracked up, their laughter echoing through the otherwise quiet lobby. And for a moment, I just stood there watching, realizing how lucky we were to have met people who didn’t mind making time for a wildly curious little boy.
I wrapped up my ATM transaction and walked toward the group, still holding a bit of that parental guilt—wondering if I should’ve kept him closer or reminded him not to bother strangers. But before I could say anything, one of the officers turned to me with a warm smile.
“Don’t worry, ma’am,” Officer Garcia said kindly. “Your boy’s a real character. He’s full of questions, and we’re happy to answer them.”
I let out a small laugh. “I’m sorry if he’s been a handful.”
“Not at all,” Officer Thompson added. “Honestly, we need more kids like him around. Keeps things interesting.”
I smiled back, though a little tension still lingered in my chest. It wasn’t about them—I trusted them. It was just the feeling of watching my child in an unexpected, completely unscripted moment that I wasn’t fully prepared for.
By now, my son had moved on to more serious matters, asking, “How do you stop the bad guys from getting away?” The officers glanced at each other, and Officer Garcia let out a dramatic sigh, as if pondering the perfect answer.
He bent down and said, “You know, the most important part of our job? We never give up. We keep trying until we get it right.”
My son’s face lit up—eyes wide, soaking in every word. He’s always talked about wanting to be a police officer. I never gave it much weight… until now.