A handsome middle aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about. The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him. He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, "This?" With that the men all began to laugh out loud. The man he addresses said, as he fought back laughter, "Hey, sorry man, but we were commenting on how pretty your little ribbon looks against your blue jacket!"
The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table, and invited him to sit down. As uncomfortable as he was, the guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said, "I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about Breast Cancer, I wear it in my mother's honor."
"Oh, sorry dude. She died of Breast Cancer?"
"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breast nourished me as an infant, and were a soft, resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I'm grateful for my mother's breasts, and her health."
"Ummm", the stranger replied, "Yeah."
"And, I wear this in honor of my wife," the middle aged man went on.
"And she is okay, too?" the other man asked.
"Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breast have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter, 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife's breast, and for her health."
"Uh, huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?"
"No, it's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died of Breast Cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have Breast Cancer, so when she accidently noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn't painful it must not be anything to worry about."
Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I am so sorry mister,"
"So, in my daughters memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to you wife and daughters, your mother, and your friends. And here..." The middle aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon.
The guy looked at it, and slowly raised his head and asked, "Can you help me put it on?"
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