She Gives Garbage Man Cupcake on Her Birthday. 6 Months Later, He Returns the Favor
We have a lot of positive, heart-warming stories on Liftable, but this one really stands out. This is a tale of two unlikely friends who become inseparable.
Brooklyn is a little blonde girl, cute as a button, who was fascinated with the garbage man. Every Thursday morning, rain or shine, Brooklyn would run to the front windows of her home and wave excitedly to the driver, Delvar Deshawn Dopson.
Soon enough, waving from the confines of the house was not enough. Brooklyn needed to be closer. So she and her mom, Traci, would stand on the front porch every Thursday morning, rain or shine, and wave excitedly to Delvar Deshawn Dopson.
Missing this morning routine was absolutely unthinkable, but if the unthinkable happened — which, of course, we all know it sometimes does — Brooklyn would rush to get ready for daycare so they could drive around and catch him on their route, allowing her to meet her Thursday-morning wave quota.
When Brooklyn’s birthday rolled around — as birthdays are wont to do — she had a very particular birthday request: She wanted to meet the mystery garbage man she’d been waving to, so that she could present him with a birthday cupcake.
I don’t know how it gets much cuter or more genuine than that. Most kids on their birthdays frantically launch themselves at their gifts and gobble up cake, and even adults tend to treat their birthdays as a personal day where everything is about them.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating your birthday, but to celebrate it by giving? Priceless.
And I mean, look at that photo. Look at it. You can see the anticipation as the birthday girl anxiously awaits the arrival of the garbage truck.
According to Brooklyn’s mom, Traci Raymond Andrake, Dopson played along with the girl’s plans perfectly. “When he came down our street, she ran to the corner. We were waving like usual and I motioned for him to come over by us. He pulled over, got out and gave us his BIG smile. Brooklyn was instantly speechless as she handed him the cupcake.”
Brookyln was awed into silence by the long-awaited meeting with her Thursday hero. On the drive to daycare she was oddly quiet, and her concerned mother asked her if she was okay.
Her answer? “Mommy I’m so happy.”
But it didn’t end there. Oh no. Not one to let such a sweet gesture go unrequited, Dopson had a plan that he had to wait six months to act on.
Brooklyn’s birthday was in April. Dopson’s was in October. So when October rolled around, Dopson rolled with it and brought a surprise of his own for his biggest little fan.
Dopson stopped on his route to share cupcakes with Brookyln and her little brother Ty. But he upped the ante, he brought them presents, too! Brooklyn got an Elsa doll and Ty got a baseball tee.
This unlikely friendship bloomed into wonderful memories for everyone involved, and so far they’ve managed to keep up the tradition. Brooklyn and Ty’s mom is understandably grateful for the garbage guy’s tenderness, and has been posting on social media with a message just for him.
“Delvar, thank you for your continued friendship and your kindness to my kids. Eric and I feel so blessed that you came into our family’s lives. We are forever grateful for the happiness your bring our kids, and also us.”
“Happiness is contagious,” writes Traci before signing off. We agree, and we think this story is overflowing with joy and kindness. If you agree, be sure to share this encouraging story with your friends!
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