Anumber of years ago (1983-1987), I had the opportunity to play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's Corporation. My marketplace1 covered most of Arizona and a portion of Southern California.



One of our standard events was "Ronald Day." One day each month, we visited as many of the community hospitals as possible, bringing a little happiness into a place where no one ever looks forward to going. I was very proud to be able to make a difference for children and adults who were experiencing some "down time2." The warmth and gratification3 I would receive stayed with me for weeks. I loved the project, McDonald's loved the project, the kids and adults loved it and so did the nursing and hospital staffs.



There were two restrictions placed on me during a visit. First, I could not go anywhere in the hospital without McDonald's personnel as well as hospital personnel. And second, I could not physically touch anyone within the hospital. They did not want me transferring germs4 from one patient to another. I understood why they had this "don't touch" rule, but I didn't like it. I believe that touching is the most honest form of communication we will ever know. Printed and spoken words can lie; it is impossible to lie with a warm hug5.



Breaking either of these rules, I was told, meant I could lose my job. Toward the end of my fourth year of "Ronald Days," as I was heading down6 a hallway7 after a long day in grease paint and on my way home, I heard a little voice. "Ronald, Ronald."



I stopped. The soft little voice was coming through a half-opened door. I pushed the door open and saw a young boy, about five years old, lying in his dad's arms, hooked up to more medical equipment than I had ever seen. Mom was on the other side, along with Grandma, Grandpa and a nurse tending to the equipment.



I knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was grave8. I asked the little boy his name. He told me it was Billy and I did a few simple magic tricks for him. As I stepped back to say good-bye, I asked Billy if there was anything else I could do for him.



"Ronald, would you hold me?"



Such a simple request. But what ran through my mind was that if I touched him, I could lose my job. So I told Billy I could not do that right now, but I suggested that he and I color a picture. Upon completing a wonderful piece of art that we were both very proud of, Billy again asked me to hold him. By this time my heart was screaming9 "yes!" But my mind was screaming louder. "No! You are going to lose your job!"



This second time that Billy asked me, I had to ponder10 why I could not grant the simple request of a little boy who probably would not be going home. I asked myself why was I being logically and emotionally torn apart by someone I had never seen before and probably would never see again.



"Hold me." It was such a simple request, and yet, I searched for any reasonable response that would allow me to leave. I could not come up with11 a single one. It took me a moment to realize that in this situation, losing my job may not be the disaster12 I feared.





Was losing my job the worst thing in the world?



Did I have enough self-belief13 that if I did lose my job, I would be able to pick up and start again? The answer was a loud, bold affirming "yes!" I could pick up and start again.



So what was the risk?



Just that if I lost my job, it probably would not be long before I would lose first my car, then my home, and to be honest with you, I really liked those things. But I realized that at the end of my life, the car would have no value and neither would the house. The only things that had steadfast14 value were experiences. Once I reminded15 myself that the real reason I was there was to bring a little happiness to an unhappy environment, I realized that I really faced no risk at all.



I sent Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa out of the room, and my two McDonald's escorts16 out to the van. The nurse tending the medical equipment stayed, but Billy asked her to stand and face the corner. Then, I picked up this little wonder of a human being. He was so frail17 and so scared. We laughed and cried for 45 minutes and talked about the things that worried him.



Billy was afraid that his little brother might get lost coming home from kindergarten next year, without Billy to show him the way. He worried that his dog wouldn't get another bone because Billy had hidden the bones in the house before going back to the hospital and now he couldn't remember where he put them.



These are problems to a little boy who knows he isn't going home.



On my way out of the room, with tear- streaked makeup18 running down my neck, I gave Mom and Dad my real name and phone number (another automatic dismissal for Ronald McDonald, but I figured that I was gone and had nothing to lose), and said if there was anything the McDonald's Corporation or I could do, do give me a call and consider it done.19



Less than 48 hours later, I received a phone call from Billy's mom. She informed me that Billy had passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank me for making a difference in their little boy's life.



Billy's mom told me that shortly after I left the room, Billy looked at her and said, "Momma, I don't care anymore if I see Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald."



From the record, McDonald's did find out about Billy and me, but given20 the circumstances, permitted me to retain my job. I continued as Ronald for another year before leaving the corporation to share the story of Billy and how important it is to take risks.



Sometimes we must do what is right for the moment, regardless of the perceived21 risk. Only experiences have value, and the one biggest reason people limit their experiences is because of the risk involved.
关键字:好文共赏
生词表: